Near-Death Experiences and the Temporal Lobe

People who report having had a near-death experience during a life-threatening event show more temporal lobe epileptiform brain activity and more temporal lobe epilepsy symptoms than control subjects. However, contrary to earlier findings linking mystical experiences to the right temporal lobe, the epileptiform activity was almost entirely in the left hemisphere. Near-death experiencers do not show dysfunctional stress reactions such as dissociation, posttraumatic stress disorder, or substance abuse; instead they have positive coping styles. They also have altered sleep patterns: shorter sleep duration and delayed REM sleep. The findings suggest that altered temporal lobe functioning may play a role in near-death experiences and that these individuals are physiologically distinct from the general population.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Many studies in humans suggest that altered temporal lobe functioning, especially functioning in the right temporal lobe, is involved in mystical and religious experiences. We investigated temporal lobe functioning in individuals who reported having transcendental "near-death experiences" during life-threatening events. These individuals were found to have more temporal lobe epileptiform electroencephalographic activity than control subjects and also reported significantly more temporal lobe epileptic symptoms. Contrary to predictions, epileptiform activity was nearly completely lateralized to the left hemisphere. The near-death experience was not associated with dysfunctional stress reactions such as dissociation, posttraumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse, but rather was associated with positive coping styles. Additional analyses revealed that near-death experiencers had altered sleep patterns, specifically, a shorter duration of sleep and delayed REM sleep relative to the control group. These results suggest that altered temporal lobe functioning may be involved in the near-death experience and that individuals who have had such experiences are physiologically distinct from the general population.