| Scientists have always been divided as to the truth or | | | | other words, the there is nothing spiritual about NDEs |
| fallacy behind reported near death experiences or | | | | because they are merely neurotransmitters emitting |
| NDE's. There are some who say these are mere | | | | erratic signals leading to sensations such as bright lights |
| last-minute ceremonials of a dying brain, while others | | | | and tunnel visions. |
| believe the spiritual dimension is too large to ignore. | | | | The Hallucination Theory |
| While more and more are convinced that NDE's are | | | | This theory claims that because people who are on |
| genuine human encounters with the after life, some | | | | the brink of death secrete massive amounts of |
| insist on reducing them to nothing more than the | | | | feel-good hormones called endorphins, these are thus |
| workings of a body part that is about to cease to | | | | responsible for reported feelings of peace, calm, |
| function. | | | | ineffability and indifference. |
| This division between scientists has sparked the need | | | | Temporal Lobe Theory |
| to conduct a two-fold research looking into what really | | | | Damage to the brain's temporal lobe is linked to a type |
| lies behind NDEs. One study focuses on the | | | | of epilepsy which produces an experience of |
| physiological aspect which is a direct approach into the | | | | separation from one's physical body and mental |
| biological aspect of death while the other is | | | | flashes of particular episodes in one's life. These |
| psychological which studies the whats, hows and | | | | scientists believe that the same portion of the brain is |
| whys of human thought and behavior, including the | | | | stimulated when a person is about to die, hence, |
| tendency to hallucinate. | | | | producing the same results reported as an NDE. |
| Those who are looking into the psychological aspect | | | | Lack of Oxygen Theory |
| of NDE claims rely on both religious and cultural | | | | When the brain is deprived of oxygen or subdued with |
| explanations for why such experiences are viewed | | | | carbon dioxide, two characteristic conditions in a dying |
| mainly as a contact with the Greater Being. They | | | | person, the brain creates bright light sensations while |
| believe that a person's orientation on the concept of | | | | tunnel visions are produced by increased blood |
| death is responsible for his tendency to give a religious | | | | concentration around the round-shaped area of the |
| color to such an experience. Because people have | | | | retina, which is the central spot of light. |
| been taught since childhood that death is a point of | | | | There are actually more theories attempting to supply |
| crossing over into the after life, they tend to interpret | | | | a scientific explanation to reports of NDEs. And while |
| their experience as such. | | | | some make great and obvious sense, especially to |
| On the other hand, those who vigorously refute | | | | those who have studied the human anatomy and |
| everything spiritual about NDEs have at least four | | | | physiology for nearly half their lives, there remain many |
| scientific theories to support their stand: | | | | questions that are still unanswered. |
| The Dying Brain Theory | | | | Wherever the debate leads on, there's only one thing |
| Espoused by Dr. Susan Blackmore in her book, Dying | | | | that could be concluded from the disparity. While |
| to Live, the theory says NDEs are merely last round | | | | everything could be explained by science, nothing can |
| rituals of a brain that is slowly ceasing to function. In | | | | stop us from drawing meaning from all things. |