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Near-death experiences and the temporal lobe

Britton, Willoughby B. & Bootzin, Richard R. (2004)

Published
Apr 1, 2004
Journal
Psychological Science · Vol. 15 · No. 4
DOI
10.1111/j.0956-7976.2004.00661.x

At a GlanceAI

NDE experiencers show more temporal lobe epileptiform EEG activity, but on the left, not the predicted right.

SummaryAI

Britton and Bootzin recorded EEG in people who had NDEs during life-threatening events and in controls. Experiencers had more temporal lobe epileptiform activity and reported more temporal lobe symptoms, but the activity was almost entirely left-lateralised, against the right-hemisphere prediction. The NDE was not linked to dissociation, PTSD or substance abuse and went with positive coping styles. Experiencers also slept less and showed delayed REM sleep.

Method SnapshotAI

Case-control study with EEG and sleep measures.

BackgroundAI

Basic EEG and sleep neuroscience.

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