podcast

Near-death experiences (NDEs) are otherworldly sensations that can occur during a medical emergency. They can be triggered by extreme shock, not just being near death. NDEs are inconsistent and differ for each person, regardless of their religious beliefs. The most popular theory is that NDEs offer a glimpse of the afterlife, but scientific research suggests they are a result of the brain creating a false reality in response to trauma. Studying NDEs is challenging due to ethical concerns. Some individuals experience NDEs while unconscious or clinically dead, and even blind or visually impaired individuals recall visual aspects. Theories suggest that the process of brain cell healing (anastasis) or interruptions in rapid eye movement sleep may increase the likelihood of NDEs. NDEs may also be a coping mechanism for the brain during medical emergencies. People who have had NDEs often undergo positive life changes and develop a new appreciation for life. While there is no definitive scien Hey everyone, and welcome back to Fake, Fact, and the Inbetween. I'm Maya. And I'm Maddox. And today we're going to delve into a complicated and sometimes personal topic, near-death experiences. What are they? What aren't they? Why do they happen? And the biggest question of all, are they really a glimpse or proof of an afterlife? So, for starters, what is a near-death experience? A near-death experience, sometimes referred to as an NDE, is a term used to explain the phenomenon of experiencing an otherworldly or even heavenly sensation during a medical emergency. This could be seeing a light, feeling your body lift out of itself, sensations of overwhelming bliss, or even apparitions of gods or deities. Contrary to its name, however, near-death experiences can be triggered just by someone feeling extreme shock, rather than the common misconception that someone must be declared medically dead, near-death, or severely injured or ill. Because of medical advancements, near-death experiences happen much more frequently than they have in the past, now that we have better life-saving technology and access. A huge challenge of researching near-death experiences is its lack of uniformity. The conditions under which someone may encounter this sensation are inconsistent, and the experience itself is different in each case. For instance, according to Getting Comfortable with Near-Death Experiences, an Overview of Near-Death Experiences, an article published in the National Library of Medicine, a person's religion can very often have no effect on the kind of visuals or feelings a person may have. For some, they may see or feel things that completely align with their pre-existing beliefs, while others see something unrelated or even a different god or deity than the one they worship or believe in. Additionally, children have experienced near-death experiences long before they have developed deep-rooted or long-standing religious beliefs in heaven or an afterlife. There is no evidence or research to explain the difference in each person's experience, but there are a lot of theories as to how or why they occur. The most popular belief or theory is that in these situations, the individual is momentarily being beckoned to or entering the afterlife or heaven. We aren't here to say that's absolutely untrue, but as believers of good science, we feel it's necessary to explore other, less popular ideas. The best way to start understanding the theories and science of near-death experiences is to realize that this science and research is done believing that near-death experiences are something that happen within the brain, and feelings of floating visions or bright lights and apparitions are a result of the brain creating a false reality, likely in response to the trauma. There isn't science to support a momentary trip to heaven, or at least not yet. Now, you may be thinking, what makes all of this science so hard to study or understand? This, of course, comes down to ethics and the realm of possibility in science. Because near-death experiences occur under such intense circumstances, whether it be a medical emergency or extreme shock, there's no ethical way to imitate these conditions. No good scientist is going to even attempt to put someone under such stress for the chance of better understanding, so a lot of the theories we'll talk about today aren't much more than that, theories of cause. But we still believe it's a topic that can be studied beyond accessibility failure. Interestingly, many near-death experiences have occurred while a person is completely unconscious or even has been declared clinically dead. However, many patients still report a seeing of the light or sensation of floating, despite the condition of their physical body. In theory, this shouldn't be possible. An individual should not be able to remember anything from a time they were unconscious or medically dead. To add to that, many blind or visually impaired people have also had near-death experiences. How could a person who is entirely blind recall visual aspects of their near-death experience? As far as we've historically understood, they shouldn't be able to. But that's the essence of near-death experiences, trying to comprehend and explain something so seemingly inexplicable. Same with patients under anesthesia. Assuming the dosage is correct, a patient shouldn't be able to recall anything while under anesthesia. And yet they do. When it comes to understanding near-death experiences, we have to set aside some of what we think we know and understand as fact. So, our first theory regards anastasis, which is Greek for resurrection. It defines the process during which brain cells that have been determined dead or dying begin to heal themselves. It is theorized that as this process begins to take place, an individual may be more likely to go through a near-death experience. Anastasis itself is a process we'd initially never have believed possible, much like near-death experiences. Another condition under which someone may be more likely to recall a near-death experience is someone who experiences REM, or rapid eye movement, sleep interruptions. While this is a newer theory, more research may be able to identify greater evidence of the two connecting. Wait a minute, but isn't someone experiencing REM just a person dreaming? It is, but a person who has frequent interruptions during these REM periods has been found to be more likely to go through a near-death experience. Everyone dreams, but a lot of us are lucky enough to do so uninterrupted. Well, I guess I should consider myself to be lucky then. Last, near-death experiences really could just be the method our brains frequently use in order to cope with the trauma and stress of medical emergencies and shock. Much of the human brain continues to be unsolvable. As we slowly chip away at its functions, near-death experiences will likely continue to be one of the many unknowns for years to come. Even as science advances to better explain how and why near-death experiences happen, it's reasonable to think that appeal to tradition will play a big part in why people continue viewing them as glimpses of heaven. Some view near-death experiences as proof their religious beliefs are true. And in all fairness, there is very little risk or damage in letting people believe this. In fact, many individuals who have had near-death experiences will go through large lifestyle changes. This could include a change in religion, health behaviors, and interpretations of the world. You might be thinking to yourself, what is life like after a near-death experience? Can someone truly recover from such an intense situation? The answer is yes. And in fact, people do more than just recover. Instead, many go on to thrive. Interestingly, the most common result of life after near-death is a new appreciation and zeal for life. Some individuals may have a change in or newfound religious beliefs. Others have a new motivation to maintain or better their health. But in general, and of course with exceptions, a large majority of those who have near-death experiences come out better because of it. So, we won't sit here and tell you what to believe in regards to near-death experiences. Part of the magic of them is a diversity in personal understanding. But instead, we give you the information to better determine the belief yourself. As science advances, researchers are creating a better framework with which we can hope to have a more clear understanding of what near-death experiences are. Until then, as good scientists, we have to make an effort to avoid logical fallacies that frequently accompany religion, death, and the unknown. So, faith, fact, or the in-between? With the information we have access to right now, I think the in-between. I personally don't believe that near-death experiences are proof of heaven or an afterlife. But I also acknowledge that science proving otherwise is still relatively new and has a lot of work ahead of it. I feel the same way. Near-death experiences are a complex mystery. But with any luck, we'll never encounter one and find out for ourselves.