Approved For Release 2000/08/15 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000700920001-9 Exceptional Human Experience the seventh chapter, “Explanations,” Moody discusses why he considers NDEs to be spiritual experiences and then describes the many attempts to explain NDEs, including the birth experience hypothesis, carbon dioxide overload, hal- lucination, fantasy, wish fulfillment, and the collective uncon- scious. In the "Conclusion," he expresses his conviction that NDEs provide evidence of life after life. The bibliography, with paragraph-length annotations, consists of research reports that helped him to form his "knowledge and opinion on the subject of near-death experience” (p, 157). - R.A.W, 03991. Perry, Paul. Brushes with death. Psychology Today, 1988 (Sep), 22(9), 14-17. 2 illus Paul Perry presents a popular review of NDE research that touches on the work of Raymond Moody, Michael Sabom, and Melvin Morse, with the emphasis on Moody: The Light Beyond is described as Moody’s last book on NDEs. His next work supposedly will be on past- life regression. Brief descriptions of 9 traits associated with NDEs are given. Paul Kurtz criticizes NDEs by pointing to confusion in the definition of death, the fact that evidence is anecdotal, and that there are several physiological explana- tions for NDEs, as there are for the related OBE. - RAW. SURVEYS _Basterfield, Keith. Near-death experiences: An Ustralian survey. Australian Institute of Psychic =!Re h.(AIPR) Bulletin, 1986 (Feb), No. 9, 1-4," 2 illus; 10 =Tefs; 1 questionnaire : A questionnaire was sent to 26 Australians who had reported a near-death experience (NDE). The 12 returned questionnaires reveal that Australian NDEs are very similar to those reported overseas, This adds to the legitimacy of the experience, and demonstrates the need for more scientific studies. - DA 03993, Holden, Janice Miner. Unexpected findings in a study of visual perception during the naturalistic near- death out-of-body experience, Journal of Near-Death Studies, 1989 (Spr), 7(3), 155-163. 3 figs; 12 refs study [03246] of visual perception during the naturalistic near-death out-of-body experience (nND OBB), that aspect of the NDE in which the experiencer seems to view normal physical Surroundings from a vantage point out- side the physical body, yielded some unexpected findings that contradicted or augmented previous research. The majority of respondents were able to estimate the duration tivity to Subsequent verification of nND OBE perceptions. Each of these findings is discussed relative to previous research and analyzed in light of the limitations of the cur- rent study. Implications for further research are discussed. - DA 0 _ > ‘Allan, and Heaven, Patrick. Com- | ity attitudes toward near-death experiences: An > Australian. study. Journal of Near-Death Studies, 1989 - (Spr), 7(3), 165-172, 16 refs; 3 tables In an Australian survey of community attitudes toward near-deat: NDE was evidence of life after death, while less than 2 per- cent believed the NDE was a sign of mental illness. Women, younger persons, and those who professed a belief in life after death were more likely to react positively to d 68 Vol. 8, Nos. 1/2 December 1990 the NDE described. - DA THEORETICAL 03995. Basterfield, Keith. The cause of near-death ex- periences: A review. Australian Institute of Psychic Research (AIPR) Bulletin, 1985 (Jan/Feb), No. 5, 10-14. 35 refs This article surveys several proposed explanations of néar-death experiences (NDEs); mundane, such as dream-like visions and subconscious fabrication; religious; pharmacologi- cal; neurological (temporal-lobe seizures and beta-endorphins)/ physiological; psychological, including depersonalization; and the parapsychological holographic model of Ring. All models fail because they are unable to explain all aspects of the NDE. Analysis of individual reports in terms of each model should prove more fruitful. - DT/M.J.H. 03996. Blackmore, Susan. Visions from the dying brain. New Scientist, 1988 (May 5), 178, 43-46. 4 illus Near-death experiences may tell us more about con- sciousness and the brain than about what lies beyond the grave. - DA 03997, Kellehear, Allan. Sociological reasons for the recent interest in near-death experiences. Australian In- stitute of Psychic Research (AIPR) Bulletin, 1985 (Jan/Feb), No. 5, 7-9. 11 refs Four recent major changes in society have lead to the recent explosion of interest in the near-death experience (NDE). (1) Technological and demographic changes underly- ing our experience with death: improved technology means more people are being revived after nearly dying; and more sation; and orthodox institutions and health care methods are being criticized more, (3) The changing role of religion; traditional simple images of God and the after life are being rejected. (4) Our changing relationship with institutions; Society has tended to reject authority and institutional care in favor of self-help. - DT/M.J.H. 03998. Noyes, Russell, Jr. Near-death experiences: Their interpretation and significance. In Robert Kastenbaum (Ed), Between Life and Death (pp. 73-88). New York, Springer, 1974, 29 refs; 2 tables Alive one moment--but perhaps dead the next. How does a person think and feel in the midst of a life- threatening situation? Psychiatrist Russel] Noyes, Jr. has studied responses to near-death experiences in a variety of circumstances, including falls, drownings, and accidents, as well as illness, Interesting though the information is on a descriptive level, Noyes presses on to a possible explanation, Depersonalization is a central concept here. what has already happened cannot happen again; he cannot die because he ‘is already dead.” Other key concepts for Noyes are the state of hyperalertness and the generation of panoramic memory in the life-or-death crisis situation, Here is a careful and sensitive analysis of the human response to immediate mortal danger, one that respects ex- periential data but attempts to draw its principles from dynamics already known in the broad realm of human be- havior rather than invoke mysterious concepts to explain mys- terious events. However Noyes’s theory may hold up against the test of time, it offers a lucid and provocative approach for us today. - DA Approved For Release 2000/08/15 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000700920001-9