Near-Death Experiences (NDE): What the Research Shows
People who have survived cardiac arrest sometimes describe something that cannot easily be explained. For several decades, doctors have been studying these accounts using scientific methods.
Ezostylia Editorial Team · facts checked in sources · updated 31.10.2026
What is an NDE
An NDE (near-death experience) is an experience that occurs in some people in a life-threatening condition, most commonly during cardiac arrest. It tends to feature recurring elements:
- a sense of calm and freedom from pain,
- the feeling of separating from one's body and observing it from above,
- passing through darkness or a tunnel towards a bright light,
- meeting deceased loved ones or a 'being of light',
- a review of one's entire life, like a film,
- a boundary that cannot be crossed, and a return to the body.
American psychiatrist Bruce Greyson devised a scale in 1983 that is still used today to measure the depth of such experiences.
Van Lommel's Study (2001)
Cardiologist Pim van Lommel spent several years speaking with patients who had been resuscitated in 10 Dutch hospitals. Of 344 individuals, 62 — that is, 18% — described a near-death experience, and 41 (12%) described a deep one. Patients were revisited after 2 and 8 years: those who had undergone an NDE more frequently reported reduced fear of death and greater empathy.
An important finding: NDE did not depend on the duration of cardiac arrest or on medications administered, which makes straightforward explanations difficult.
The AWARE Project
In 2014, Sam Parnia's team reported on 2,060 cardiac arrests in hospitals in the United Kingdom, the United States and Austria. 330 people survived, and interviews were conducted with 140 of them. Around 9% described an NDE, and one patient accurately recounted what had happened in the resuscitation room during approximately 3 minutes of resuscitation.
Researchers also placed shelves bearing pictures in the rooms — pictures that were visible only from above. In the subsequent AWARE II study (2023), none of the interviewed patients recognised the hidden images or sounds, although 11 of 28 described memories suggesting awareness during resuscitation.
How NDE Changes People
The most frequently described effects are reduced fear of death, greater interest in spirituality, and sometimes difficulty returning to one's former life and being understood by loved ones. Some people also undergo distressing experiences, which they speak about less often because they feel ashamed of them.
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You will find all 30 topics in the section Mysteries of life and death.
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Sources
van Lommel, The Lancet 2001 (EurekAlert) · AWARE NDE Study, Psi Encyclopedia
Frequently asked questions
How often do near-death experiences occur?
In prospective studies, they are reported by approximately 9% (AWARE, 2014) to 18% (van Lommel, 2001) of people resuscitated after cardiac arrest.
Does an NDE prove the existence of the soul?
It does not settle the matter. These are genuine experiences, but their cause is a subject of debate: ranging from neurological hypotheses to consciousness independent of the brain.