OBEs, NDEs & End-of-Life Experiences
Out-of-body, near-death and end-of-life experiences have become central to modern discussions of consciousness, selfhood and survival. This Mind & Body subcategory gathers articles on their features, interpretation and research history, covering both spontaneous cases and broader debates about whether such experiences are hallucinatory, psychological, spiritual or evidential in significance. Bios of researchers in this domain are included.
‘The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven’ (recanted NDE)
Best-selling American book describing the supposed NDE of a 6-year-old child.
‘The Phenomena of Astral Projection’ (1951)
Classic study of OBEs, described in the context of the occult idea of 'astral projection'.
AWARE NDE Studies
AWARE and AWARE II were large-scale studies testing for veridical perceptions recalled by hospital patients during NDEs.
Alexander Batthyány
Austrian philosopher, cognitive scientist and researcher concerned with phenomena surrounding death and dying.
Robert Crookall
English geologist (1890-1981) who promoted out-of-body experiences as evidence of ‘astral projection’ and postmortem survival.
Deathbed Visions Research
Describes research into the phenomenon of deathbed visions by psi investigators Karlis Osis and Erlendur Haraldsson.
Distressing Near-Death Experience
Although most reported near-death experiences (NDEs) are pleasant, almost one in five are disturbing.
Does Something Leave the Body During OBEs?
Discusses early ‘projection’ theories of the out-of-body experience.
Eben Alexander
Near-death experience described by an American neurosurgeon that attracted media attention and controversy.
Peter Fenwick
British neuropsychiatrist and neurophysiologist (1935–2024), leading authority on near-death and end-of-life experiences.
Bruce Greyson
American psychiatrist at the University of Virginia who is the world's leading authority on near-death experiences.
Medieval Near-Death Experiences
Episodes described in Medieval writings are both similar to and different from modern accounts.
Sylvan J Muldoon
American who wrote about his out-of-body experiences, which occurred throughout his life, and which he was able to control.
Near-Death Experience (Overview)
This article describes anomalous mental events reported by people who have survived a near-fatal accident or illness.
Near-Death Experience – Paranormal Aspects
List of NDEs with confirmed clairvoyance and other paranormality.
Out-of-Body Experience (OBE)
Reviews research on OBEs, the sense of having separated from the body and of viewing it from the outside.
Pam Reynolds (Near-Death Experience)
This near-death experience of an American woman is regarded as especially significant.
Phenomena Related to Danger, Death, and Bereavement
Anomalous mental phenomena may be triggered by emotional crises.
Kenneth Ring
Retired American psychologist who is one the leading investigators of near-death experiences, about which he has written extensively.
Alex Tanous
Alex Tanous (1926–1990) was a noted New England psychic and parapsychologist, who contributed to out-of-body research.
Terminal Lucidity
Persons with long-term dementia and other severe neurological disorders may return to mental clarity shortly before dying.