Near-death experience study reveals the most common visions among survivors: ‘A great light in the distance’

It’s 1 of humanity’s astir enduring mysteries: What happens erstwhile we die?

Now, a caller technological investigation has taken america a measurement person to knowing what whitethorn dishonesty beyond nan grave, the Daily Mail reported.

Researchers interviewed 48 group who had survived near-death experiences (NDEs), asking them to picture — and moreover sketch — what they saw successful their last moments.

Their findings, published successful a insubstantial now awaiting adjacent review, uncover a wide array of experiences, ranging from divine encounters to surreal, otherworldly journeys.

Some participants described seeing heavenly beings aliases belief figures, including Jesus and God.

One recalled, “There were chromatic stairs connected nan near successful beforehand of me, and Jesus was toward nan top, wearing a achromatic robe.”

Another said, “God appeared arsenic a awesome ray successful nan distance.”

Others reported experiences that defied immoderate accepted belief framework. One personification claimed to person seen a “black hole,” while different described a cosmic “matrix” made up of “many grid points, each connecting successful aggregate dimensions.”

Another subordinate described an angel pinch “exquisite achromatic wings, nan feathers incredibly elaborate and layered onto 1 another,” and a “face for illustration that of a Greek god.”

Lead writer Dr. France Lerner of nan Beijing Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Applications told nan Daily Mail that taste beliefs play a important domiciled successful shaping what group acquisition during an NDE.

This mightiness explicate why immoderate participants reported proceeding “men reference nan Torah,” while others described Jesus aliases angelic beings.

Despite their diversity, galore NDEs shared communal themes — tunnels, agleam lights, staircases, loved ones, and sometimes, cosmic aliases geometric patterns.

Researchers recovered that these experiences typically occurred successful 1 of 4 chopped “spatial types.”

• A-shapes progressive a narrow, tunnel-like vision, perchance linked to reduced humor travel to nan brain.
• B- and C-shapes occurred successful elliptical aliases arch-like spaces and are apt triggered arsenic half of nan ocular section is temporarily lost.
• C5-shapes, nan astir complex, occurred wrong a afloat 360-degree “ellipsoidal enclosure.” People typically progressed from an A-shape to a C5-shape acquisition arsenic their NDE progressed, starring researchers to judge they person nan aforesaid beingness cause.

Importantly, she stresses that nan findings do not propose nan beingness of a separable psyche aliases consciousness independent of nan body. Rather, they whitethorn bespeak nan brain’s last attempts to make consciousness of fading sensory information.

From heavenly staircases and angelic beings to cosmic matrices and achromatic holes, nan study highlights nan profoundly personal—and profoundly varied—nature of near-death experiences.

While nan study delves into nan imagery of near-death visions, another caller study has turned its attraction to what happens aft group travel back.

The investigation from nan University of Virginia (UVA) recovered that astir 15% of severely sick patients study having an NDE — experiences that whitethorn see an out-of-body sensation, reunions pinch deceased loved ones, aliases a profound consciousness of peace.

To understand really these individuals header afterward, UVA researchers surveyed 167 group who had undergone specified episodes. Their findings, published successful Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice, uncover that nan aftereffects tin beryllium arsenic life-altering arsenic nan experiences themselves.

Nearly 70% of participants reported awesome changes successful their belief aliases belief beliefs, on pinch a diminished fearfulness of death.

But nan translator often comes astatine a cost. Over 20% of participants said they faced narration struggles aliases divorces aft their experience, while galore described enduring loneliness and isolation.

One subordinate called their NDE a “double-edged sword” — an arena excessively profound to share, for fearfulness of being misunderstood.

Some researchers judge nan grounds points beyond biology.

Dr. Jeffrey Long, a radiation oncologist successful Kentucky and laminitis of nan Near-Death Experience Research Foundation, has analyzed much than 5,000 cases. Long told Business Insider he has recovered “overwhelming evidence” of life aft death.

According to Long, 45% of NDE survivors study out-of-body experiences, often describing themselves floating supra their ain bodies — sometimes later confirmed by witnesses.

However, he’s still not judge really they happen.

“I haven’t recovered immoderate technological mentation for these experiences,” Long confessed, but noted nan breadth of nan reports. “I’ve publication encephalon investigation and considered each imaginable mentation for NDEs. The bottommost statement is that nary of them holds water.”

Dr. Bruce Greyson, professor emeritus of psychiatry astatine UVA, agrees that near-death experiences are amazingly common, affecting betwixt 10% and 20% of group who travel adjacent to decease — astir 5% of nan organization astatine large. 

So whether you’re expecting pearly gates, a agleam ray aliases different dimension, this world mightiness not beryllium nan past point you spot earlier you time off it.