Near-death experiences 'explained'

[WHAMPOM]

An eleven dimensional entity breaking out of its four dimensional constraints.

 

[dardarla]

The circumstances that permit a near death experience are nothing to wish for and personally I think they should be avoided.

Watch what you "Wish" for.

Well we're all gonna have it eventually (its just a matter of if we come back)... so hopefully it won't be for a long long long time

 

[hans030390]

There's also theories that it's a massive release of DMT in the brain. It also turns out that DMT itself can give the user something like a near death experience.

 

[destrekor]

There's also theories that it's a massive release of DMT in the brain. It also turns out that DMT itself can give the user something like a near death experience.

Yep, it's just one of the chemicals the body releases on mass.

All the electric activity, while itself is not above normal, coupled with the brain's awareness of "oh shit, about to lose oxygen", it all triggers basically all of the brain to just release the various NTs and other chemicals.
It ends up with the body basically saying "oh fuck, well... might as well trip fucking balls before death".
It's partly just how the brain is wired, and is partly the body's attempt to ease pain in the last few moments.

 

[BigToque]

What's the explanation for life flashing before your eyes? When I had a near death experience, my life flashed before my eyes from back as long as I could remember to what was currently occurring.

I just assume that parts of our brain that contain our "memories" are hardly ever used. As the body stops functioning, blood stops flowing, the brain has no oxygen, and then all the neurons start firing from all parts of the brain at once. The memory neurons that have been mostly dormant are now randomly firing as the brain starts to die.

 

[ahenkel]

There's also theories that it's a massive release of DMT in the brain. It also turns out that DMT itself can give the user something like a near death experience.

Its true, I tired DMT back in 2006. Its very powerful like tripping on tripping if that makes sense. The whole world is replaced for about 30 minutes.

 

[JS80]

I just assume that parts of our brain that contain our "memories" are hardly ever used. As the body stops functioning, blood stops flowing, the brain has no oxygen, and then all the neurons start firing from all parts of the brain at once. The memory neurons that have been mostly dormant are now randomly firing as the brain starts to die.

I would buy that, except I was in a situation where, from what I was seeing from my perspective, my brain predicted my death. And then my life flashed in a matter of a split second. It was really weird/cool because, although it was literally <1 second it was like I saw my life in slow motion.

And of course I barely got away from the situation to safety.

 

[JSt0rm]

I hope mine lasts for 3 minutes. I want to experience ALL of life before I step into oblivion.

 

[JSt0rm]

And of course I barely got away from the situation to safety.

was this a giant Nancy Pelosi?

 

[Geekbabe]

Sort of like shutting down a computer.

 

[AreaCode707]

I wonder, do animals have the same measurable biological phenomenon?

 

[BUTCH1]

I have some great LSD stories but that's another thread.

LOL, yea, that would be a fun thread indeed...

 

[Minjin]

The circumstances that permit a near death experience are nothing to wish for and personally I think they should be avoided.

Watch what you "Wish" for.

It's not dangerous at all and has been done many many times.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvxFXkv7L24

http://discovermagazine.com/2005/jul/extreme-states/article_view?b_start:int=1&-C=

I thought an oxygen starved brain causing NDEs was common knowledge. The things you see in an NDE are about as real as LSD hallucinations. Both are the result of failing brain functions yet people seem to believe after the fact that the hallucinations in the former are real and not the latter. Boggles my mind...

 

[destrekor]

I wonder, do animals have the same measurable biological phenomenon?

Well, considering we are an animal, I reckon they do.

 

[mmntech]

Sort of like shutting down a computer.

I hope to see this. :awe:

A problem has been detected and Your Brain has been shut down to prevent damage to your soul.

The problem seems to be caused by the following file: heartattack.exe

TOO_MANY_FRIED_FOODS

If this is the first time you've seen this stop error screen, use defibrillator. If this screen appears again, repeat the following steps:

Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance.

If problem continues, you're screwed. Please reinstall soul in new body. Press F8 to continue.

Seriously though, I've never really believed in a god or afterlife but I would like to be pleasantly surprised.

I wonder how this evolved. Is it some kind of coping mechanism hardwired into us? That's the real mystery.

 

[AreaCode707]

Well, considering we are an animal, I reckon they do.

Non-human animals was implied. It'd be a kinda cool fact to know.

 

[destrekor]

Non-human animals was implied. It'd be a kinda cool fact to know.

^_^

Well I can't say for sure, and the issue is, we can't really say exactly what goes through a lesser-animal's mind, at, well.. any point in their lives, including the very last moment.

I mean, there are some smart animals out there, but thus far it seems there has only been one other animal to exhibit any kind of self-awareness (iirc, and this also implies animals currently alive. Previous humanoid primates likely were too, based on the things they left behind).
I reckon this whole mystical/spiritual center of our brain is simply coupled with projection of self, and thus is limited to only animals who possess self-awareness. At least, in the primate family, seeing as our brains are all remarkably similar save for differences in volume and amount of folding of the cerebral cortex.

Anyhow, I too am curious about the more basic similarities.
I cannot imagine it is too different for any other complex animal. At near death, the brain likely fires off electrical surges and there is likely a cascading release of all the neurotransmitters and various chemicals.
What they experience in their mind, would really be the big question (this is assuming they do experience that basic physiological NDE). We know some animals do have visual dreams.

I wonder if dogs, during a NDE, see a big white tunnel with their human and/or doggie pals at the end of it, a big pile of delicious treats, and an endless yard with numerous squirrels to harass?
I sure hope dogs experience that. They deserve it for all they give us humans. One grand send off into the nether world of carbon decomposition.