A neuroscientific model of near-death experiences.
Nature reviews. Neurology June 1, 2025 Charlotte Martial, Pauline Fritz, Olivia Gosseries et al. 19 citations
Near-death experiences (NDEs) are episodes of disconnected consciousness with prototypical mystical features, often occurring during actual or perceived physical threat. Various explanatory theories have been proposed, but integration has been limited. Converging evidence from neuroscience—including non-human studies, psychedelic-induced mystical experiences, and research on the dying brain—now offers a comprehensive explanation. This Review discusses psychological and neurophysiological processes underlying NDEs, including cellular and electrophysiological brain network changes and neurotransmitter alterations. The authors propose a model encompassing a cascade of concomitant processes within an evolutionary framework and consider how NDE research informs debates on consciousness emergence near brain death.