Near-death experience as a probe to explore (disconnected) consciousness

[en] Forty-five years ago, the first evidence of near-death experience (NDE) during comatose state was provided, setting the stage for a new paradigm for studying the neural basis of consciousness in unresponsive states. At present, the state of consciousness associated with NDEs remains an open question. In the common view, consciousness is said to disappear in a coma with the brain shutting down, but it is oversimplified. This article argues that the novel framework distinguishing awareness, wakefulness and connectedness is relevant to comprehend the phenomenon. Classical NDEs correspond to internal awareness experienced in unresponsive conditions, thereby corresponding to an episode of disconnected consciousness. Our proposal suggests new directions for NDE research, and more broadly, consciousness science.

Research Center/Unit :

GIGA-Consciousness-Coma Science Group; CHU de Liège - Centre du Cerveau²

Disciplines :

Neurosciences & behavior

Author, co-author :

Martial, Charlotte ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Consciousness-Coma Science Group

Cassol, Helena ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Consciousness-Coma Science Group

Laureys, Steven ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Consciousness-Coma Science Group

Gosseries, Olivia ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Consciousness-Coma Science Group

Language :

English

Title :

Near-death experience as a probe to explore (disconnected) consciousness

Publication date :

February 2020

Journal title :

Trends in Cognitive Sciences

ISSN :

1364-6613

eISSN :

1879-307X

Publisher :

Elsevier, Netherlands

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Available on ORBi :

since 18 December 2019

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