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Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports
Erschienen in: Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports 9/2019

01.09.2019 | Neurotrauma (D. Sandsmark, Section Editor)

Semiology and Mechanisms of Near-Death Experiences

verfasst von: Costanza Peinkhofer, Jens P. Dreier, Daniel Kondziella

Erschienen in: Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports | Ausgabe 9/2019

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Near-death experiences (NDEs) are conscious perceptual experiences, including self-related emotional, spiritual, and mystical experiences, occurring in close encounters with death or in non-life-threatening situations. The origin of NDEs remains unknown. Here, we review recent advances in the understanding of NDE semiology and pathophysiology.

Recent Findings

Recent prospective studies confirm that NDEs reflect a spectrum of highly distinctive memories which are associated with negative or positive emotions and can be influenced by the nature of the causal event, but the temporal sequence with which these images unfold is variable. Some drugs, notably ketamine, may lead to experiences that are similar or even identical to NDEs. New models extend previous neural network theories and include aspects of evolutionary and quantum theories.

Summary

Although the factual existence of NDEs is no longer doubted and the semiology well-described, a pathophysiological model that includes all aspects of NDEs is still lacking.
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Metadaten
Titel
Semiology and Mechanisms of Near-Death Experiences
verfasst von
Costanza Peinkhofer
Jens P. Dreier
Daniel Kondziella
Publikationsdatum
01.09.2019
Verlag
Springer US
Erschienen in
Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports / Ausgabe 9/2019
Print ISSN: 1528-4042
Elektronische ISSN: 1534-6293
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-019-0983-2

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