This is your brain on death: a comparative analysis of a near-death experience and subsequent 5-Methoxy-DMT experience
June 29, 2023 Luke, David, Michael, Pascal, Robinson, Oliver
A person who had a near-death experience while in a coma from bacterial meningoencephalitis later took 5MeO-DMT, a potent psychedelic. Comparing the two experiences revealed strong similarities, including ego dissolution and transcendence of time and space, which are common to both NDEs and psychedelic states. However, the NDE uniquely included a life review, encounters with deceased loved ones, and a threshold experience not present in the 5MeO-DMT journey. Despite the overlaps, the individual felt the experiences were not similar enough to conclude that NDEs are caused by endogenous psychedelics. The authors speculate that brain inflammation from the infection might have triggered neural activity resembling psychedelic effects.