[Near-death experiences: fact and fancy]. / Expériences de mort imminente: phénomènes paranormaux ou neurologiques?

ABSTRACT

Seeing a bright light at the end of a tunnel or having a sense of being out of the physical body are phenomena that some patients report after having been close to death. Some spiritual and psychological theories have been developed in order to explain these near-death-experiences. Clinical studies have aimed to determine their frequency and to assess their precipitating factors. Recent neuroimaging studies, however, have shown the involvement of the temporo-parietal cortex in the generation of out-of-body experiences and are offering a physiological, neurological account for the phenomenon, rebuffing dualistic, non-physical explanations.