Comments on: Near-death experiences http://www.hoshuha.com/blog/nde.html A blog about current events from a Christian perspective. Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:19:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: casey http://www.hoshuha.com/blog/nde.html#comment-35 casey Tue, 19 Jun 2007 10:19:41 +0000 http://www.hoshuha.com/blog/nde.html#comment-35 I took a look at both articles. Dr. Fenwick's article says, <blockquote>The flat electroencephalogram (EEG), indicating no brain activity during cardiac arrest, and the high incidence of brain damage afterwards both point to the conclusion that the unconsciousness in cardiac arrest is total...Now, that raises interesting and difficult questions for us, because the NDErs say that their experiences occur during unconsciousness, and science maintains that this is not possible.</blockquote> He also notes the following about the timing: <blockquote>Anecdotal evidence suggests that the OBE, and so the NDE, occurs during unconsciousness. There is also anecdotal evidence that it may be veridical. Sabom in 1982 found that some of his research participants gave correct accounts of resuscitation procedures, suggesting that the NDE occurs when the brain is "down."</blockquote> So I'm still unconvinced. It feels like time passes when we dream, but studies suggest that dreams occur in an instant. Is it not also possible, then, that the visions seen by people who have "died" take place immediately after blood begins flowing to the brain again and before consciousness is regained? Don't get me wrong. I'm not ruling anything out. I guess I'll just be skeptical until I have one of these experiences for myself. I took a look at both articles. Dr. Fenwick’s article says,

The flat electroencephalogram (EEG), indicating no brain activity during cardiac arrest, and the high incidence of brain damage afterwards both point to the conclusion that the unconsciousness in cardiac arrest is total…Now, that raises interesting and difficult questions for us, because the NDErs say that their experiences occur during unconsciousness, and science maintains that this is not possible.

He also notes the following about the timing:

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the OBE, and so the NDE, occurs during unconsciousness. There is also anecdotal evidence that it may be veridical. Sabom in 1982 found that some of his research participants gave correct accounts of resuscitation procedures, suggesting that the NDE occurs when the brain is “down.”

So I’m still unconvinced. It feels like time passes when we dream, but studies suggest that dreams occur in an instant. Is it not also possible, then, that the visions seen by people who have “died” take place immediately after blood begins flowing to the brain again and before consciousness is regained?

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not ruling anything out. I guess I’ll just be skeptical until I have one of these experiences for myself.

]]> By: casey http://www.hoshuha.com/blog/nde.html#comment-34 casey Mon, 18 Jun 2007 14:57:37 +0000 http://www.hoshuha.com/blog/nde.html#comment-34 Thanks, Allen. I'll have a look. Thanks, Allen. I’ll have a look.

]]> By: Allenupl http://www.hoshuha.com/blog/nde.html#comment-33 Allenupl Mon, 18 Jun 2007 14:28:24 +0000 http://www.hoshuha.com/blog/nde.html#comment-33 If you want to know about the most current research on near-death experiences (NDEs), you can read about them on the website of the International Association for Near-Death Studies at www.iands.org. In particular, you might want to check under the Research tab for published papers outlining new findings, particularly the two articles written by medical researchers Dr. Peter Fenwick and Dr. Pim Van Lommel. During the past 30 years, near-death experiences have been the focus of many scientific studies at universities and medical centers throughout the U.S. and around the world. Many medical professionals who have seriously studied the research -- and it is extensive -- no longer dismiss this phenomenon as hallucinations, intense dreams, or caused by physiological or pharmacological factors. The best analysis of the many physiological theories regarding NDEs is on a DVD that has a presentation by Dr. Bruce Greyson (from the University of Virginia Medical School) titled “T3-Explanatory Models of NDEs.” It can be obtained from the website above by clicking the link on the home page for DVDs from a 2006 conference at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Allen If you want to know about the most current research on near-death experiences (NDEs), you can read about them on the website of the International Association for Near-Death Studies at http://www.iands.org. In particular, you might want to check under the Research tab for published papers outlining new findings, particularly the two articles written by medical researchers Dr. Peter Fenwick and Dr. Pim Van Lommel.

During the past 30 years, near-death experiences have been the focus of many scientific studies at universities and medical centers throughout the U.S. and around the world. Many medical professionals who have seriously studied the research — and it is extensive — no longer dismiss this phenomenon as hallucinations, intense dreams, or caused by physiological or pharmacological factors. The best analysis of the many physiological theories regarding NDEs is on a DVD that has a presentation by Dr. Bruce Greyson (from the University of Virginia Medical School) titled “T3-Explanatory Models of NDEs.” It can be obtained from the website above by clicking the link on the home page for DVDs from a 2006 conference at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.
Allen

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