Book contents
- Near-Death Experiences
- Near-Death Experiences
- Copyright page
- Epigraph
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- General Introduction
- Part I Consciousness
- Part II Near-Death Experiences
- Chapter 2.1 History of the Term “Near-Death Experience”
- Chapter 2.2 A Short Historical Review of Observations of NDE-Like Phenomena
- Chapter 2.3 Deathbed Phenomena
- Chapter 2.4 General Incidence of NDEs
- Chapter 2.5 Childhood and NDEs
- Chapter 2.6 Aftereffects of NDEs in Affected Persons and in NDE Researchers
- Chapter 2.7 Control of Claims of Extraordinary Experiences
- Chapter 2.8 Paranormal Explanations of NDE-Like Perceptions
- Chapter 2.9 Experimental Observations That Mimic NDE Phenomenology
- Chapter 2.10 Memories
- Chapter 2.11 NDEs in Altered States of Consciousness
- Chapter 2.12 Evaluation of Brain-Based Explanations for NDEs
- Chapter 2.13 Summary and Conclusions of Part II
- General Review and Conclusions
- Epilogue
- References
- Index
General Review and Conclusions
from Part II - Near-Death Experiences
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 30 August 2025
Edited by
Book contents
- Near-Death Experiences
- Near-Death Experiences
- Copyright page
- Epigraph
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- General Introduction
- Part I Consciousness
- Part II Near-Death Experiences
- Chapter 2.1 History of the Term “Near-Death Experience”
- Chapter 2.2 A Short Historical Review of Observations of NDE-Like Phenomena
- Chapter 2.3 Deathbed Phenomena
- Chapter 2.4 General Incidence of NDEs
- Chapter 2.5 Childhood and NDEs
- Chapter 2.6 Aftereffects of NDEs in Affected Persons and in NDE Researchers
- Chapter 2.7 Control of Claims of Extraordinary Experiences
- Chapter 2.8 Paranormal Explanations of NDE-Like Perceptions
- Chapter 2.9 Experimental Observations That Mimic NDE Phenomenology
- Chapter 2.10 Memories
- Chapter 2.11 NDEs in Altered States of Consciousness
- Chapter 2.12 Evaluation of Brain-Based Explanations for NDEs
- Chapter 2.13 Summary and Conclusions of Part II
- General Review and Conclusions
- Epilogue
- References
- Index
Summary
Modern experimental techniques in exploring and understanding our brain and mind have shown that brain processes are intimately connected with the generation of states of consciousness. Against this background, near-death experiences (NDEs), including out-of-body experiences (OBEs), can be validated as phenomena generated in altered states of consciousness of the mind. In the history of research on NDE phenomena, paranormal or metaphysical explanations often included personal views and belief in a “life after life” or purely speculative quantum physical approaches to consciousness. The assurance that extraordinary experiences such as NDEs have their origin in physiology-dependent psychological processes of the brain of the experiencer, and not in an unknown, paranormal, or mystical entity, points to therapies usable by medical and psychological professionals to help all those who may suffer from confusion, disorientation, or fear as aftereffects of their experiences.
Information
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Near-Death ExperiencesScientific Perspectives on Stories of Personal Truth, pp. 168 - 170Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2025
Accessibility standard: WCAG 2.0 A
The PDF of this book
conforms to version 2.0 of the
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
(WCAG), ensuring core accessibility principles are addressed and meets the basic
(A)
level of WCAG compliance, addressing essential accessibility barriers.
Content Navigation
Table of contents navigation
Allows you to navigate directly to chapters, sections, or non‐text items through a linked table of contents, reducing the need for extensive scrolling.
Allows you to navigate directly to chapters, sections, or non‐text items through a linked table of contents, reducing the need for extensive scrolling.
Index navigation
Provides an interactive index, letting you go straight to where a term or subject appears in the text without manual searching.
Provides an interactive index, letting you go straight to where a term or subject appears in the text without manual searching.
Reading Order & Textual Equivalents
Single logical reading order
You will encounter all content (including footnotes, captions, etc.) in a clear, sequential flow, making it easier to follow with assistive tools like screen readers.
You will encounter all content (including footnotes, captions, etc.) in a clear, sequential flow, making it easier to follow with assistive tools like screen readers.
Short alternative textual descriptions
You get concise descriptions (for images, charts, or media clips), ensuring you do not miss crucial information when visual or audio elements are not accessible.
You get concise descriptions (for images, charts, or media clips), ensuring you do not miss crucial information when visual or audio elements are not accessible.
Full alternative textual descriptions
You get more than just short alt text: you have comprehensive text equivalents, transcripts, captions, or audio descriptions for substantial non‐text content, which is especially helpful for complex visuals or multimedia.
You get more than just short alt text: you have comprehensive text equivalents, transcripts, captions, or audio descriptions for substantial non‐text content, which is especially helpful for complex visuals or multimedia.
Visual Accessibility
Use of high contrast between text and background colour
You benefit from high‐contrast text, which improves legibility if you have low vision or if you are reading in less‐than‐ideal lighting conditions.
You benefit from high‐contrast text, which improves legibility if you have low vision or if you are reading in less‐than‐ideal lighting conditions.
Structural and Technical Features
ARIA roles provided
You gain clarity from ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) roles and attributes, as they help assistive technologies interpret how each part of the content functions.
You gain clarity from ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) roles and attributes, as they help assistive technologies interpret how each part of the content functions.