neardeath

Neardeath is a term used to describe experiences reported by people who have come close to death or experienced a period of clinical death or life-threatening illness. These experiences, often referred to as near-death experiences (NDEs), have been reported across cultures and historical periods.

Accounts often include an out-of-body perception, a sense of moving through a tunnel toward a bright light, encounters with beings or deceased relatives, a life review, and a feeling of peace or detachment from the physical body. Not all features occur, and details vary widely depending on individual, cultural, and religious background.

Researchers frame NDEs as episodes triggered by severe physiological stress, such as hypoxia or ischemia during cardiac arrest, or as neuropsychological events involving temporal lobe activity and REM intrusion. Psychological factors, such as expectancy, memory construction, and coping mechanisms, and cultural narratives also shape the experience.

Research on near-death experiences has developed scales to measure their phenomenology and to assess long-term impact. Analysts have documented associations with increased spirituality, changes in attitude toward life, and reduced fear of death. Debates persist about whether NDEs reflect non-physical phenomena or primarily neurobiological and psychosocial processes, and concerns about retrospective reporting and survivorship bias.

Neardeath experiences intersect with medicine, psychology, and religion, influencing end-of-life care and personal belief systems. Cultural differences influence content and interpretation, but some core features are reported across diverse populations. See also near-death experience, out-of-body experience, resuscitation, and spiritual and religious interpretations.