Brain Communications
June 22, 2021
C. Peinkhofer, C. Martial, H. Cassol et al.
49 citations
Near-death experiences occur across cultures, suggesting a biological basis. This work tests the hypothesis that thanatosis, or death-feigning—a last-resort defense seen in animals from insects to humans—is the evolutionary origin of near-death experiences. Thanatosis is a highly preserved survival strategy. Humans attacked by animal, human, or modern predators can exhibit both thanatosis and near-death experiences, and their phenomenology and effects overlap. The evidence indicates thanatosis is the evolutionary foundation of near-death experiences, with the shared biological purpose of survival. Language may have transformed these stereotyped death-feigning events into the rich perceptions of near-death experiences, extending them to non-predatory situations.
Brain Communications
January 1, 2024
Yasir Çatal, Georg Northoff
3 citations
A commentary on a study about brain dynamics that predict response to psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression. The original study by Vohryzek and colleagues investigated how brain activity patterns before and during psilocybin treatment might identify which patients with treatment-resistant depression are likely to benefit. The commentary discusses the implications of these findings for understanding how psychedelics work in the brain and for developing personalized treatment approaches.
Brain Communications
January 4, 2022
Daniel Kondziella, Charlotte Martial
1 citation
This peer-reviewed work explores the intersections of subjectivity, transparency, ontology, epistemology, philosophy, political science, law, paranormal experiences and beliefs, Jungian analytical psychology, and religious studies and spiritual practices. It examines how these diverse fields inform understandings of human experience and belief systems, arguing for a nuanced approach to studying phenomena that challenge conventional empirical frameworks. The text discusses theoretical and philosophical perspectives, integrating insights from multiple disciplines to address questions about the nature of reality, knowledge, and spiritual or paranormal claims. It suggests that interdisciplinary dialogue enriches scholarly inquiry into these complex topics.