Psychophysiologic correlates of unconsciousness and near-death experiences.

A pattern of psychophysiologic symptoms called the G-LOC syndrome, observed across nearly 1000 episodes of acceleration-induced loss of consciousness in healthy individuals, may help identify which features of near-death experiences (NDEs) are unique to dying. The author proposes a classification scheme for NDEs based on neurologic states and transitions caused by altered blood flow to the nervous system. Consciousness and unconsciousness are framed as a neurobiologic balance between survival in the external environment and protection from internal ischemic threat. Studying G-LOC episodes is thus valuable for understanding both loss of consciousness and the NDE.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Although loss and recovery of consciousness are integral parts of the near-death experience (NDE), the role of altered states of conscious ness in the NDE has not been thoroughly investigated. Sixteen years of ob servations, including nearly 1000 acceleration (+Gz)-induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC) episodes, have revealed a pattern of psychophysiologic symptoms that collectively constitute the G-LOC syndrome and relate to the kinetics of +Gz-induced ischemia. Comparison of the psychophysiologic symp toms of G-LOC episodes and NDEs may help identify those symptoms unique to near-death and the process of dying. I propose a classification scheme for the study of NDEs and for relating near-death research to other psycho physiologic research. This scheme is based on the neurologic states of the nervous system and the transitions between them that result from alteration of blood flow to the nervous system. Consciousness and unconsciousness are considered as the neurobiologic bases of a balance between survival in the external environment and protection from ischemic threat within the inter nal environment. The study of G-LOC episodes in healthy individuals is therefore of value for understanding the mechanisms of both loss of con sciousness and the NDE.