Explanations And Research Into NDE

Question 1

Physiological explanations of NDE

Answer 1

Dying brain hypothesis:

Oxygen deprivation (anoxia)-

• life threatening incidences can lead to heart and respiratory problems, which can lead to anoxia/hypoxia in the brained
• can bring about such NDE effects
• anoxia in the brain causes excessive random misfiring of neurone cells which gives rise to all type of hallucinations

Endorphins-
Carr (1982) endorphins are released during times of extreme stress to act as the body’s painkiller, which explains why positive emotions are experienced during an NDE

Question 2

Research supporting physiological explanation

Answer 2

Whinnery (1997) studied pilots who were susceptible to extreme acceleration during flights which could lead to anoxia in the brain.

Found that many of these pilots during such situations would experience an NDE and report tunnel vision, OBE, bright lights, and being a pleasurable experience

Question 3

Evaluation for physiological explanation

Answer 3

Rejected -
* psychological factors can not account for NDEs as those who have had NDEs in clinical cases, are not deprived of the oxygen levels

Question 4

What does the term “near death experience” mean?

Answer 4

Images and emotions of profound mystical, divine and spiritual in nature that a person may experience when they are close to death, or are clinically dead but survive to recall the experience