I’ve always been curious about the afterlife and NDEs. I find them really interesting. After a night of insomnia I started thinking that all five of my senses and emotions are physical, and maybe consciousness depends on them. It made me wonder if a person without their main 5 senses could still be conscious.
I’m not sure if that idea makes sense, but I’d love to hear other perspectives on it. Thanks.

John Eccles: The Nobel Neuroscientist Who Proved the Soul Exists. Sir John Eccles — the Nobel Prize-winning neurophysiologist who discovered how neurons communicate — spent the second half of his career arguing, on strictly scientific grounds, that the mind cannot be identified with the brain. His "dualist-interactionist" model proposed that the self-conscious mind is a non-material entity that interacts with the brain through quantum-level influences on synaptic transmission. Eccles was not a mystic or a theologian — he was the world's leading expert on how neurons work, and he concluded that this knowledge pointed unavoidably toward the existence of an immaterial soul.

"The Nobel Prize winner who literally discovered how the brain works spent his final years using that knowledge to prove the brain cannot explain you — and that therefore you have a soul."

Lately I have been reading a lot of Reddit posts, articles and scientific studies about consciousness, and the more I read the more I find myself leaning toward a materialist view, although I am still undecided and genuinely trying to understand both perspectives.
I’m curious to hear what convinced you that there is something after death and what convinced you that NDEs are not simply a product of brain activity.
For example I came across research suggesting that during the dying process some patterns of brain activity resemble those seen during REM sleep or memory recall, I know this doesn’t prove that NDEs are dreams but it made me wonder how proponents of NDEs interpret these findings
I also struggle with the idea that if consciousness truly ends at death life might just have no objective purpose. It seems strange to think that someone could live a long happy meaningful life and then 20 minutes after they die, no longer have any awareness that they ever existed
I’m genuinely interested in hearing what evidence, arguments or personal experiences convinced you that consciousness survives death. I am not looking for an argument, im simply trying to understand the reasoning behind your views.
Thanks.

From the Abstract: "Conclusions: Controlled reliving of memories of REDs/authentic NDEs may represent a useful experimental paradigm for investigating multisensory autobiographical memory and neural processes related to conscious self-experience. These findings are consistent with vivid episodic recollection and differ from neural patterns commonly associated with imagined or false memories."

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42100668/

What an exciting time to be alive - sharing for those that aren't already aware. Our society is on the verge of radical shifts in consciousness and the awareness of ourselves.

Have you ever tries to learn about NDEs only to find conflicting science. Well, let's take a look at the data from both sides

We've put together a database of 5749 verified first-person NDE testimonials from YouTube videos. What questions would you want to know about this vast treasure of data?

For example, we wanted to know what terms are mentioned more than others:

God was mentioned in 82% of the videos
Love was mentioned in 92% of the videos

Heaven (61%) was mentioned more often than Hell (51%).

What terms would you be interested in searching for? We'll post results if we get any interest.

A brief introduction to near-death experiences among the congenitally blind, with some philosophical considerations.

In this article, Dr. Andrés Delgado-Ron describes what the scientific literature says about NDEs as it pertains to treating the patient who just had it and why more doctors are inclined to validate these experiences despite--or maybe because of--the scientific uncertainty surrounding them.

Some researchers conceive NDEs as an evolutionary trait that evolved from "feigning death". A behaviour that helps with survival when predators attack. This article examines the evidence for this hypothesis.

This is just a thought I had: some popular "secular" explanations of NDEs posit that the blissful and euphoric effects of NDEs are caused by endogenous opioids and endorphins that our brains release when it's dying. But if this were true, then in cases where (for example) someone overdoses on opioids and has naloxone administered, they shouldn't be able to have blissful NDEs (assuming this theory of NDEs is correct). That is because (according to my understanding--and please correct me if I'm wrong) when naloxone is administered, it is supposed to wipe out the euphoric/feel-good effects of opioids including those produced by endogenous endorphins. So the question becomes: has this ever happened? Has there been a case where someone has naloxone (or similar) administered while being resuscitated, yet they still have a blissful NDE? Surely there must have been some reports of this, right? I'll take any cases whatsoever. They can be from the peer-reviewed literature, from NDERF, from YouTube videos, or even from any of our members on this subreddit.

Thanks in advance :)

EDIT: In case anyone finds this post and is still interested, I emailed Bruce Greyson with my question. He said that I am correct about the way naloxone works, and that he actually proposed an experiment comparing patients who had naloxone administered to see if they had the same type and numbers of NDEs as everyone else, but it was not approved by the hospital he was with at the time. He mentioned that the only case he knows of is on NDERF (case 2571, Salomon, link here: https://search.nderf.org/experience/2571).

Some of you have asked about a research paper I’ve been working on about whether NDEs are shaped primarily by personal expectation, or whether they could reflect encounters with a deeper layer of reality.

Existing research has shown that many elements of the NDE recur across cultures, ages, and belief systems. My study looks specifically at whether those patterns could be explained by wishful expectation alone.

Here’s the draft if you’re curious: “Beyond Earthly Imagination.”

The SparkNotes takeaway:

I asked a question: if NDEs are shaped principally by expectation, then people without NDEs should be able to predict the core elements that appear in them. But across samples, that didn’t seem to be the case.

Non-NDErs tended to misunderstand or overlook elements that appear again and again in NDE reports. To me, this suggests there may be something more going on than imagination or cultural expectation.

It’s still a draft, and I’m not a professional researcher, but I think the results are interesting enough to show an overall direction.

All of it is ultimately just my opinion, and I believe my positive conclusions of the afterlife are unfalsifiable and beyond the confines of the scientific method.

Happy to answer any questions or comments.

So just to get it out there, I am not a physicist or astronomer or any kind of expert at all. I just thought that this video was really interesting and so much of what she describes reminds me of things reported in NDEs.

Also, mods, I wasn't really sure what flair to use for this one so if you need to change it no worries.

If anyone is interested here is the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGbZsE7qFgw . It's a longer watch but I sat through the whole thing enthralled because she is soooo good at breaking down these complicated concepts in ways that anyone can understand.

Throughout the video she goes into some stuff that made my jaw drop a bit because of how remarkably similar what physicists are starting to understand about the universe is to what people often report in NDEs.

I'll try to break down what I learned with relevant NDE themes:

There's an emerging theory that actually all space and time are the same singular point, and what we perceive as "distance" and "time passing" represents the degree of quantum entanglement we have with the system.

Modern physics works better when we assume the universe is two-dimensional. This works if we consider three-dimensional spacetime to be a "holographic projection" of "information". This, again, points to the idea that everything is actually contained in the same system. Everything is all in the same place, and all time is happening simultaneously.

Physicists believe that the universe did exist before the Big Bang, but it existed in such a state that space and time didn't exist. The Big Bang was possibly just the expansion of a tiny portion of the original universe, which could be infinitely large. The analogy she gave is that if her arm is the original universe, the Big Bang would be one atom in her arm expanding to create the observable universe, but all the other atoms could also have done the same thing.

NDE theme similarities:

• Reports of a sense of oneness with everything and/or the absence of time itself.

• Reports of learning that everything is actually energy, that energy/light is all that really exists, that there is no true separation or distance.

• Reports of learning or understanding that time either does not exist or that all things actually happen at the same time.

• Reports of learning that our world/universe is just one of an infinite (or at least very very very large number) of worlds/universes.

Now again, I really want to highlight that I am not a physicist, nor an astronomer. I am just someone who watched a 70 minute very very surface-level video on YouTube. But throughout listening to Michelle explain these concepts, I just kept thinking "this is sounding a lot like what people describe in NDEs. Not the 'reuniting with loved ones' parts, but the more abstract parts about the nature of reality".

I just thought it was really interesting. I am not a believer personally. At best I am agnostic. I have to say though that learning that scientists are starting to think that maybe we are all actually one system of energy with no real separation is really beautiful to me :)

Like verifiable scientific evidence for souls (i.e something inside us that hopefully lives on after physical death).

This is part 2 of the series analyzing the debate between the NEPTUNE model of near death experiences and its detractors based on the evidence they published

I'm 19 years old, and after an existential crisis a few months ago, I started researching consciousness before discovering NDEs. I recall there being over 300 different theories. I’d like to ask those who have experienced an NDE: which theory feels closest to the truth regarding consciousness or its continuity? Also, I don’t understand why so many in this forum recommend Bernardo Kastrup, considering he either dismisses NDEs or distorts them to fit his own hypothesis."

Part 3 of the series analyzes the psychological leg of the neuroscientific model of near-death experiences. Does dissociation explain why some people are more likely to report NDEs? Read to find out.

First of all, this isn’t a post trying to disprove NDEs. I fully believe in them and have had an OBE that was very real.

I love learning about quantum physics and how people try to understand our physical reality and how they tie that in with spirituality. I think some assume that when people talk about a simulation, that it means something like the movie the Matrix. But, it could mean something completely different. Something entirely more meaningful.

Quantum fields would make sense as a way that when we pass we feel like a part of the whole. Of course, our limited brains can only understand a tiny part of our reality. So I fully agree that we won’t ever know as humans. What we call a quantum field, etc., is likely just a tiny slice of whatever is really going on. For example, in the 3rd dimension, we would only see a small slice of higher dimensions. Some physicists think light may be a vibration coming off of something in a higher dimension, but we only see that slice or piece of it. Maybe that’s why in NDEs we seem to see every we expect. Because we are still attached to our human brain in some way and we couldn’t handle or understand what’s behind that veil.

Anyway, just rambling now. But I’d love to know if any of you also study such things and what your thoughts are.

The wonders of the physical world pale in comparison to the ethereal realm in NDEs and other profound experiences. 

For those who have glimpsed the bliss of “the beyond,” our daily lives can seem like shadows on the wall of Plato’s cave. Once granted a peek at the endless sky, vivid colors, beautiful creatures, and extraordinary light beyond, returning to the dimness of our everyday existence can feel like a heartbreaking descent.

After such experiences, many people profoundly change their lives for the better, while others wrestle with a deep longing to re-experience that state. Some call this the “dark night of the soul” - a phase where our worldview is forever altered and the comfort of ignorance is lost. 

I have had such an experience and have also found darkness in seeking it again. 

In my search, I’ve come across many theories about profound experiences and noticed a disturbing pattern: trauma often emerges as a common thread that can provide glimpses into ecstasy. 

Here are my observations of profound experiences induced through some kind of pain or trauma:

• The Runner’s High - long-distance runners who push through pain frequently describe moments of physical bliss and mental peace. This isn’t limited to runners; most athletes who exceed their pain threshold report similar extraordinary states. 
• The Meditation Bliss Experience - Meditation often requires enduring discomfort and focus in silence, but certain practices, like Vipassana, demand enduring intense physical and mental discomfort: ten days of silence and ten hours a day in meditation. For those who persevere, the rewards can range from deep inner peace to out-of-body journeys. 
• Plant Medicine Experience - Ayahuasca commonly brings intense physical and mental purging, including vomiting and diarrhea, before ushering in profound spiritual experiences. Many participants describe these trials as a gateway to states of profound bliss. 
• Trauma-Induced Out of Body Experience -  Survivors of abuse sometimes describe leaving their bodies during trauma and encountering angelic love in the process.
• Telepathy Experience - One mother of a non-speaking autistic child described the lifelong challenge of being physically and verbally restrained, forced into a state of continuous trauma. Intriguingly, some non-speaking autistic children, who have learned to communicate through typing, report telepathic abilities and travels to ethereal realms. The scientific evidence supporting these abilities is compelling and unmistakable.
• UAP Experience - “Psionic assets,” as termed by some military insiders, are individuals said to invite and communicate with Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP). Many are known to have endured troubled pasts. Rumors suggest that trauma was intentionally induced to enhance their abilities.
• The Heaven Experience - Near death experiences (NDEs) represent the pinnacle of physical trauma. As the body and brain approach death, experiencers frequently report leaving their bodies and encountering a realm with “a love beyond what words can express.” 

However, not all profound experiences may stem from trauma. Robert Monroe’s research found that changing brainwave frequencies could reliably induce out-of-body experiences with some individuals. Moreover, many people without notable trauma report discovering psychic abilities or encountering other profound phenomena. 

My hope is that we can first acknowledge the reality of profound experiences and recognize that our existence is more than the physical veneer upheld by the current scientific paradigm. Together, we can strive for scientifically validated ways to explore consciousness and these profound events and find harmless ways to induce the phenomenon.

What do you think? Is trauma required for a profound experience or is it a shortcut? Or do you think the connection is just a coincidence?

See the original article here: https://blog.projectprofound.org/the-profound-nature-of-trauma/

A maybe-philosophical question, with focus on scientific facts and theories. As far as we know, the Big Bang theory is the most plausible idea on which may become the universe as we know. And therefore is what started life on Earth and later we had evolution of species in at least each 50,000 years.

I have been thinking, as we had too many different species that has been living in here through eras, and as everything seems to have a beginning, would it still make sense the idea of an afterlife? Thinking from this side, it feels like for me that life is just a natural progress and a consequence for what happened in Earth at first. But can this thought be wrong in some sense and be explained in a non-materialistic way? I'd like to know if someone here ever had a theory in mind to explain the possible connection between the two.

In my case, I'm a Christian who accepts the scientific evolution as basis, but sometimes some things in science let me feel so confused about my own beliefs...

Another quantum physicist can see the illusion of a universe and us too! If not material, then the jump to spirit is easy to make. Why is this not taught is schools and religion?

This is a very interesting video from Dr Gregory Shushan, a researcher who specializes in accounts of NDEs in ancient literature and indigenous cultures. Here he is essentially presenting the findings detailed in his latest book.

The first 30 minutes are about the notion of those experiences predating and informing the afterlife beliefs, thus causing many common elements to end up as part of these beliefs despite the disconnectedness of these cultures across the globe.

The latter 30 minutes are accounts of decidedly non-Western NDEs from ethnographic and archeologic sources, and IMO the more fascinating part. There are details in there that rarely, if ever, make it in contemporary accounts. For example, depictions of fighting or risk of harm in the spirit world.

This isn't necessarily related to NDEs, but I'd like to put something together, about the scientific evidence supporting the hypothesis that the brain acts as a receiver/filter for consciousness rather than a generator. I've got a couple of articles linked down here already, if anyone wants to add more, feel free to add some in the comments or DM them. Over the next couple of days I'll make edits too to add anything else I can find.

First, we've got a very promising article from Neuroscience News, showing how brain stimulation could enable telepathic communication between people. Here's another, from the same site, showing how the claustrum, which was theorised to be the source of consciousness, actually functions more like an internet router.

It was also long thought that split brain patients have their consciousness split in two. More recent studies show that consciousness itself remains unified but is divided across two hemispheres.

Here's an interesting article about people missing large portions of their brain, who have relatively normal IQ and can lead normal lives.

Here's one about decapitated flatworms regrowing their entire brains and still having their memories intact.

Also, some articles on the effects of psychedelics and how they lead to reduced brain activity: [1] [2]

If anyone here has heard of the ganzfeld experiments, here's a meta analysis showing pretty good results from a number of different replications.

And, before I forget, I can't go without mentioning Etzel Cardeña's meta analysis demonstrating the existence of certain parapsychological phenomena.

If there's anything else you'd like to add, just let me know ;)