Temporality of Features in Near-Death Experience Narratives

[en] Background: After an occurrence of a Near-Death Experience (NDE), Near- Death Experiencers (NDErs) usually report extremely rich and detailed narratives. Phenomenologically, a NDE can be described as a set of distinguishable features. Some authors have proposed regular patterns of NDEs, however, the actual temporality sequence of NDE core features remains a little explored area. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the frequency distribution of these features (globally and according to the position of features in narratives) as well as the most frequently reported temporality sequences of features. Methods: We collected 154 French freely expressed written NDE narratives (i.e., Greyson NDE scale total score 7/32). A text analysis was conducted on all narratives in order to infer temporal ordering and frequency distribution of NDE features. Results: Our analyses highlighted the following most frequently reported sequence of consecutive NDE features: Out-of-Body Experience, Experiencing a tunnel, Seeing a bright light, Feeling of peace. Yet, this sequence was encountered in a very limited number of NDErs. Conclusion: These findings may suggest that NDEs temporality sequences can vary across NDErs. Exploring associations and relationships among features encountered during NDEs may complete the rigorous definition and scientific comprehension of the phenomenon.

Disciplines :

Theoretical & cognitive psychology

Author, co-author :

Martial, Charlotte ; Université de Liège > GIGA : Coma Group

Cassol, Helena ; Université de Liège > GIGA : Coma Group

Antonopoulos, Georgios ; Université de Liège > Centre de recherches du cyclotron

Charlier, Thomas

Héros, Julien

Donneau, Anne-Françoise ; Université de Liège > Département des sciences de la santé publique > Biostatistique

Charland-Verville, Vanessa ; Université de Liège > Centre de recherches du cyclotron

Laureys, Steven ; Université de Liège > GIGA : Coma Group

Language :

English

Title :

Temporality of Features in Near-Death Experience Narratives

Publication date :

June 2017

Journal title :

Frontiers in Human Neuroscience

eISSN :

1662-5161

Publisher :

Frontiers Research Foundation, Lausanne, Switzerland

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Available on ORBi :

since 14 July 2017

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