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Do Psychedelics Hold the Key to Explaining Near-Death Experiences?
New research into psychedelics may help scientists better understand the phenomenon
Seeing a tunnel of light, feelings of inner peace, and out-of-body experiences. When people seemingly cross the threshold into another world and survive, they often come back with tales like these. The elusive near-death experience has puzzled scientists for decades now. Why do these experiences occur, and why are they so remarkably similar across cultures?
As modern science continues to embrace the study of the ineffable, researchers are discovering that psychedelic substances may be key in understanding exactly what is going on during the near death experience.
What are Near-Death Experiences?
Much like the mystical and the spiritual, near-death experiences (NDEs) have frequently escaped scientific study within the lab; NDEs arise out of the extreme, like surviving a coma or experiencing a severe head injury. Yet what’s striking about NDEs is that they are recalled with superb clarity. Moreover, their details remain stable over time — research has found that the characteristics of these experiences remain unchanged two decades after the incident.
