The intersection of near-death experiences (NDEs) and traumatic brain injury (TBI): neurobiological, phenomenological, and creative implications.
Frontiers in human neuroscience January 1, 2025 Diego Iacono, Gloria C Feltis
Traumatic brain injury and near-death experiences can sometimes trigger unexpected cognitive and creative enhancements, including heightened artistic expression. Alterations in brain networks such as the default mode network, frontoparietal circuits, and limbic regions may underlie shifts in self-awareness, emotion processing, and symbolic thinking. Neuroplasticity, diaschisis, and compensatory reorganization may facilitate novel cognition and creative output after injury. Genetic factors and evolutionary perspectives are considered. The article argues that certain brain injuries and altered states can reconfigure cognitive and emotional systems, leading to emergent artistic abilities or intensified creative insight, challenging traditional dichotomies between damage and function.