[_Stefan_]

This is what happens to the brain at death:

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/10/06/near-death-brain.html

[Bored chemist]

"Assuming our brain physiology and chemistry is much alike, then brain death, or going through or recovery from Oxygen starvation should be similar in all cases, light and joy. But it is not."
Then the assumption is faulty.
This is also indicated by, (as a trivial example) the fact that some people react differently to alcohol than others.

[that mad man]

Years ago Timothy Leary experimented with LSD on groups of people, willing volunteers. He found that most people "tripping" who held some form of religious belief were more likely to have some form of religious experiences. It was not as common in those with no belief and that's what I think is happening here. I have "been there, done it" so to speak and it seems about right to me. Most of what has been found out about NDE's seems to suggest its the religious that hope and want it to be true to prop up their faith.  Most sites about NDE's seem to be religious based and try and use NDE's to prove its a real God based phenomena.

I like the idea that the neurons spike as they discharge on death.

[yor_on]

I agree with stefan and that mad man over there
It will fall out differently depending on your expectations/imprints/experiences.

Which makes it all true in a way.

If you're a Christian there will be heaven or hell waiting.
For us thickheaded northerners our beloved Valhalla is waiving.
And for you blessed Muslims those houris are waiting.


Ah well, it describes some of the observable phenomena of our brains electrochemical discharges in death, but it does not explain consciousness. And as for out of body experiences when unconscious I've seen enough reports of it to think that there might be something to it, but what it is? Don't know.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/23/science/23cnd-body.html

But then again, there are also testimonies to people describing others talking and colors and things/objects inside rooms where they've been taken while in a coma, so?

[Titanscape (OP)]

A statistical analysis of more than 100 NDE subjects revealed that prior religious belief and prior knowledge of NDEs did not have an appreciable effect on the likelihood of having an NDE

Of course, this only scratches the surface of all the possible explanations for an NDE. NDEs seem to offer some hope that death is not necessarily something to be feared, nor is it the end of consciousness. Even science has a difficult time grasping death -- the medical community has struggled with specific definitions for clinical death, organ death and brain death for decades. For every aspect of an NDE, there is at least one scientific explanation for it. And for every scientific explanation, there seem to be five NDE cases that defy it.

The above quotes are from a previous link called, How It Works, Near Death Experiences.

I would be interested in finding and have searched for Muslim... NDEs I know they have them but never heard of any where people meet Zeus or Garnish...

The issue is not limited to consciousness but also perception in sight and hearing after death.

Dr Whitaker by now should have received treatment and overcome his NDE delusion, or he is sane and is educated and competent to assess the fear and darkness he perceived. Regarding my previous point about similarities that should be, and the endorphins and other chemistry goes on, it should be like morphine, but some find it fearful and painful, when do morphine or endorphins cause pain? Surely for some they should.

Endorphins are endogenous opioid polypeptide compounds. They are produced by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus in vertebrates during strenuous exercise,[1] excitement, pain and orgasm,[2][3] and they resemble the opiates in their abilities to produce analgesia and a sense of well-being. Endorphins have also been shown to be released in profound relaxation in a float tank.[4] Endorphins work as "natural pain relievers."

The above Endorphins from Wikipedia.

[Titanscape (OP)]

This neuroscientist explains his near death experience. The formation of complex thoughts and memories while seemingly brain dead. And the document refers to seventies USAF experiments, as referred to above that prove HYPOXY is not the explanation, too different from near death experiences.
Their light is different from the tunnel many see.
They have something more like dreams.
They do not meet loved ones or beings...

[Titanscape (OP)]

From one of my favourite resources comes an article, that finds high G forces can cause out of body experiences. It is a trigger.
http://near-death.com/experiences/triggers06.html

[cheryl j]

It stops worrying about really stupid stuff.

[Rystok]

As soon as I saw the title of this post I assumed it would be full of answers about DMT being released to "shut the body down" etc.. It seems I as wrong