Near-Death Experiences and the Possibility of Disembodied Consciousness: Challenges to Prevailing Neurobiological and Psychosocial Theories

Abstract

Claims from those having near-death experiences (NDEs), as well as those sympathetic to such claims, challenge the prevailing assumption that consciousness is dependent on a functioning brain. Extant theories, both neurobiological and psychosocial, that attempt to explain NDEs are examined and found unable to adequately account for the full range of NDE reports, especially electromagnetic after-effects and out-of-body experiences with veridical perception. As a result, many leading NDE researchers have proposed that a new model is needed to explain how consciousness could possibly exist independently of the brain, mainly relying on theories from quantum physics. Our paper critically evaluates a range of extant neurobiological and psychosocial theories of NDEs, as well as examines theories that might offer more promise in fully explaining NDEs, especially those using insights derived from quantum physics. We conclude that the "hard problem" of consciousness is not yet solved, but that NDEs provide an important avenue for exploring the relationship between consciousness and brain, as well as possibly understanding a disembodied concept of consciousness.

Quantum-Assisted Process of Disembody Under Near-Death Conditions: An Informational-Field Support Model

“…As it was recently shown (Fracasso and Friedman, 2011), the near-death experiences (NDEs) characterised generally by peace, joy, disengagement, extra-corporal view, time reversion of life and the absorption to a tunnel, were and remain a dispute topic on the medical research field, mainly because it is not clear that the experience during this state could be assigned to a disembody process of the consciousness or not. The key question on this matter is therefore that if during NDEs the consciousness really persists as long as the brain functioning is practically absent and how to explain this.…”

Transpersonal Sociology: Origins, Development, and Theory

“…The NDE is an experience wherein an individual comes close to death or clinically dies and is then resuscitated. While near death or being "clinically" dead, individuals often reportedly have experiences of: (a) exiting the body, going someplace (often into a light), (b) meeting individuals (often either deceased relatives, a being or beings of light, or a religious figure), (c) sometimes having a life review, encountering a barrier or being told to return, and (d) then returning to the body (Fracasso, Aleyasin, Friedman, & Young, 2010;Fracasso & Friedman, 2011;Fracasso, & Friedman, 2012;Fracasso, Greyson, & Friedman, 2013;Holden, Greyson, & James, 2009;Rominger, 2009Rominger, , 2010aRominger, , 2010b). While these experiences may also occur at times other than when in physical jeopardy, the most common occurrences reported are those where an individual is close to death.…”

Measuring the Transpersonal: The Research and Mentoring Contributions of Harris Friedman

“…I chuckle as I write this now, but at the time I felt like someone had cut the head off of my doll and threw it in the toilet (and, in fact I even told him that at the time, as we also share a great sense of humor together)! To make a long story short, that paper turned out wonderfully, and actually recently was published with NeuroQuantology (Fracasso and Friedman, 2011 --but, sorry readers, I guess you will never know what was in part two that disappeared).…”