A team of Belgian and Italian scientists has made a major breakthrough in understanding why people experience vivid and unusual visions during fainting or cardiac arrest. The findings of their research have been published in the NeuroImage magazine.
The researchers focused on examining brain function during states associated with loss of consciousness. To do this, they conducted an experiment with 27 healthy volunteers.
The scientists induced a temporary loss of consciousness using methods such as hyperventilation, orthostasis (sudden changes in body position) and Valsalva maneuvers (a specific breathing technique).
After regaining consciousness, the volunteers were asked to describe any unusual memories or visions they experienced.
Using extremely precise monitoring of brain activity (high-density EEG), the researchers found that certain parts of the brain became active in some participants during fainting spells, leading to visions that resembled near-death experiences. These visions often contain mystical elements and a sense of transcendence.
The analysis found that these visions were associated with increased activity in the delta, theta and beta brain wave bands in regions responsible for perception and information processing.
Furthermore, the brain showed high complexity and connectivity within these bands, which might explain the vividness and intensity of these experiences.
This study suggests that consciousness can be disrupted by bursts of neural activity, resulting in unusual and intense experiences similar to near-death phenomena.
