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Near-Death Experience as a Probe to Explore (Disconnected) Consciousness
Charlotte Martial1, Héléna Cassol1, Steven Laureys1
1Coma Science Group, GIGA-Consciousness, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium; Centre du Cerveau (Centre intégré pluridisciplinaire de l'étude du cerveau, de la cognition et de la conscience), University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
Trends in Cognitive Sciences
|January 27, 2020
Summary
Near-death experiences (NDEs) in coma patients reveal consciousness persists. A new framework distinguishes awareness, wakefulness, and connectedness for studying NDEs and brain function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience and Consciousness Studies
- Investigating the neural basis of consciousness in unresponsive states.
Background:
- The first evidence of near-death experiences (NDEs) in comatose states emerged 45 years ago.
- The current understanding of consciousness during coma is an oversimplification, often assuming complete brain shutdown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a novel framework for understanding the state of consciousness during NDEs.
- To differentiate between awareness, wakefulness, and connectedness in the context of consciousness science.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual framework development.
- Analysis of existing NDE research and theories of consciousness.
Main Results:
- Classical NDEs are characterized as internal awareness during unresponsive conditions, representing disconnected consciousness.
- A distinction between awareness, wakefulness, and connectedness is proposed as essential for comprehending NDEs.
Conclusions:
- The study suggests that consciousness does not entirely disappear in coma.
- The proposed framework offers new research directions for NDEs and the broader science of consciousness.
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