JNDS, Volume 16, Number 1
University of North Texas Digital Library (University of North Texas) DOI: 10.17514/jnds-1997-16-1-p71-78 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractKetamine can produce experiences resembling near-death experiences (NDEs), but the nature of these experiences differs depending on the context—recreational use versus use in an operating room. Both ketamine and ibogaine, a substance used in Central African religious rituals to induce NDEs, are noncompetitive antagonists of the NMDA receptor. Ibogaine also elicits different experiences based on whether it is used in a hallucinatory context or in initiatic rituals that induce a superficial coma. These observations raise the question of whether the chemically-induced NDE-like experience stems from the specific substance or from the genuine comatose state itself.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Ketamine |
| Keywords | Nmda receptor Psychology Neuroscience Internal medicine |
| Key finding | The context in which ketamine or ibogaine is used influences the nature of the near-death-like experience, suggesting that the experience may be related to the comatose state rather than the substance alone. |
Abstract
Abstract: Although ketamine can induce a state similar to a near-death experience (NDE), there is a striking difference between experiences induced by ketamine used in a recreational context and in an operating room. Ketamine is a noncompetitive antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, as is ibogaine, the main alkaloid of a shrub used in Central Africa to induce NDEs in a religious context. Ibogaine can also elicit different experiences when used in a hallucinatory context or in initiatic rituals, where a superficial state of coma is induced. These data raise the question of whether the chemically-induced NDE-like experience is related to the use of a particular kind of substance or to a genuine comatose state.