Wettach, G. E. (2000). The near death experience as a product of isolated subcortical brain function. Journal of Near-Death Studies, 19(2) 71-90.
Abstract: This paper attempts to show that the sequence of a typical near death experience (NDE) is predictable and reproducible, enough to suggest that the NDE is a symptom of a specific altered mental state seen in a large number of medical and surgical conditions. I attempt to explain on an anatomical, physiologic, and psychological basis how NDEs might be caused, and suggest that NDEs might even be the basis of religion. I also describe an NDE of a 38-year-old insulin-dependent diabetic who developed hypoglycemia secondary to a lack of caloric intake to support her daily insulin usage. She did not appear to be life-threatened from a cardiovascular standpoint. During the hypoglycemic spell, the patient appeared to be in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Following resuscitation with an intravenous injection of dextrose, the patient returned to a normal mental status, but recounted a typical NDE.
Copyright: © 2008 International Association for Near-Death Studies
Link: http://www.iands.org
Topics:
Accounts of NDEs—Autobiographical
Accounts of NDEs—Biographical, Cases
Altered States and NDEs
Characteristics of NDEs—Autoscopy, Out-of-Body
Characteristics of NDEs—Emotions NOS
Characteristics of NDEs—Encountering Beings, Deceased or Living
Characteristics of NDEs—Encountering Beings, Spiritual
Characteristics of NDEs—Life Review
Characteristics of NDEs—Light, Mystical
Characteristics of NDEs—Parapsychological Phenomena, ESP
Characteristics of NDEs—Sensory, Sound, Hearing
Characteristics of NDEs—Tunnel Experiences
Characteristics of NDEs NOS
Circumstances of NDEs—Consciousness and Unconsciousness
Circumstances of NDEs—Illness
Circumstances of NDEs—Stress
Disabilities and NDEs
Disclosure of NDEs
Dreams and NDEs
Explanations of NDEs—Physiological, Neurological, Brain
Explanations of NDEs—Physiological NOS
Explanations of NDEs—Psychological
Explanations of NDEs—Sociological
Interpretations of NDEs
Kundalini and NDEs
Mental Processes and NDEs
Psychopharmacology and NDEs—Anesthesia
Religion and NDEs—Christianity
Religion and NDEs—Hinduism
Religion and NDEs NOS
Sensory Deprivation and NDEs