Architecture of Near-Death Experience Spaces

Near-Death Experiences (NDEs) often defy verbal description, so this study used a hybrid method: a digital questionnaire plus a graphic reconstruction task. Participants with Out-of-Body Experiences (OBEs) and NDEs sequenced their experiences chronologically, then drew the spaces they perceived, their self-location, and self-motion. The graphic reconstructions revealed consistent visual-field patterns—conical forms, elliptic arcs, and ellipsoidal shapes—each linked to specific colors and brightness. The approach captured features that verbal reports alone may miss, and it examined how OBEs relate to NDEs within the overall timeline.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Near-Death Experiences (NDEs) challenge conventional research methods, as they are often described as exceeding the limits of verbal expression. While most studies rely on narrative accounts, little attention has been given to graphic representations as a complementary mode of investigation. This study employs a hybrid approach combining a semi-structured digital questionnaire with a graphic reconstruction task. Participants first segmented their Out-of-Body Experience (OBE) and NDE into distinct experiential sequences by assigning chronological numbers to each phase. This sequencing enabled the identification and isolation of the core NDE component across participants. The graphic reconstructions represent each perceived space, Self-Location (S-L), the perceived spatial position where one experiences oneself to be located and Self-Motion (S-M), the perceived spatial trajectories and directionalities of oneself within these visuo-spatial configurations. This dual-method design was intended to capture experiential features of OBEs and NDEs that may not be conveyed through verbal reports alone. Notably, OBEs have rarely been examined regarding their independence from or conjunction with NDEs, nor their placement within the overall temporal sequence. The graphic reconstructions revealed consistent visual-field invariants: conical forms, elliptic arcs with variable Visual-Field Extents (VFE), and ellipsoidal configurations, each correlated with specific chromatic and luminance perceptual qualities of the Visual Field (VF).