"Doctor says near-death experiences are in the mind" (sound, light)

[delusianne]

Dr. Kevin Nelson, a neurologist in Lexington, Kentucky ....thinks that near-death experiences are part of the dream mechanism and that the person having the experience is in a REM, or "rapid eye movement," state.
***
During REM sleep, there is increased brain activity and visual stimulation. Intense dreaming occurs as a result.

And the bright light so many people claim to see?

"The activation of the visual system caused by REM is causing the bright lights," Nelson said.

And the tunnel people speak of, he says, is lack of blood flow to the eye.

Doctor says near-death experiences are in the mind - CNN.com

[Mercury Cougar]

My reaction to this is..."Well, duh?!"

[delusianne]

Originally Posted by Mercury Cougar

My reaction to this is..."Well, duh?!"

Yeah, it's a terrible article title, kind of gives the game away.... I like the idea of it being real, though... not just coldly alone, in your mind.

[texdav]

Thinks is the key woprd there.

[Dockside]

Has he had a near-death experience? It's more interesting to listen to someone who's had one...evidently it is a deeply moving and special experience.

[delusianne]

Originally Posted by Dockside

Has he had a near-death experience? It's more interesting to listen to someone who's had one...evidently it is a deeply moving and special experience.

The article starts off with a woman recounting hers. My mother had one as a teenager... floating above her hospital bed, saw her mother crying, saw the room, the equipment, the doctor. I'd love for them to be "true"....

[Neuling]

Maybe it is related to coma. I have read that some people in a deep coma recall everything once they wake up weeks or months later, which is amazing as their eyes are closed. Still, they kind of "see" and hear their room, their visitors etc.

[Bluesbabe]

It doesn't surprise me coming from a doctor. Hell, most of them don't have the sensitivity to take certain discussions away from earshot of a person in a coma! The boyfriend of one of my friends was in the room with him when the doctor started to talk to them about his condition, pulling the plug, etc., and he started to thrash around in the bed like something was very wrong. I've no doubt he heard it all.

So what the 'f' do THEY know???

[nebulous1]

And the tunnel people speak of, he says, is lack of blood flow to the eye.

But if the eyes are closed...

[scarmig]

Originally Posted by nebulous1

And the tunnel people speak of, he says, is lack of blood flow to the eye.

But if the eyes are closed...

The visual cortex is still active, and can be activated without actual input from the eyes. In studies, people who are blind were found to use their visual cortex to process sounds. Also remember that the mind has the ability to hallucinate, which is very simply stimulating the sensory processes of the brain beyond (or in the absence of) physical input.