“Near death experiences could be caused by something as mundane as raised levels of carbon dioxide, scientists suggest. People who claim to have felt such experiences describe them as life flashing before their eyes, feelings of peace and joy and supernatural encounters. An ‘NDE’ is usually an experience described by someone who has been declared clinically dead or appears very close to death.
Improved resuscitation rates mean more NDEs are being reported but the causes for them are not known. Many scientists put them down to hallucinations while psychics or religious groups are more likely to consider them as evidence of an afterlife. A number of studies have been undertaken over the years but this is the first one that has taken carbon dioxide levels into consideration.”
Read more at Yahoo News (thanks, PaulB)
"
”could be caused by something as mundane as: raised levels of carbon dioxide…”
But what mundane thing causes the levels of carbon dioxide to raise?…who came first the chicken or the egg? I think this could be applied to ‘exploding head syndrome’ sufferers as well, though it explains nor helps near-nothing…:(
It would be good news indeed if it were accepted that a raise in Carbon Dixoide level was a prime contributor of belief in an afterlife. Pass the oxygen please.
Wonder if we got rid of excess CO2 by being environmentally friendly then would religious experiences lessen. There may be a silver lining afterall. I remember sensing while the clear light was coming to me which means I wasn’t dead at this point and my brain cells were sending some sort of neuron messages whether due to CO2 or not. Great that research is going into this frowned upon area. Thanks Abeo.
but N2O is much more phun!!
I’m assuming testing this by elevating peoples CO2 blood levels is dangerous enough to be unethical…? Would make a fascinating study, trying to induce a NDE.
What about ancient religions when CO2 was, I assume, not as high. Our ancestors must have experienced NDE’s and such..
@spiderbc1
This doesn’t have anyting to do with rising CO2 levels in the atmosphere or global warming, this is in regards to CO2 levels within the body as it is starved of oxygen, more specifically when on the operating table and the patients heart is stopped.