Past research on near-death experiences has identified key patterns in brain activity and perceptions.

Survivors overwhelmingly report positive emotions, such as feeling peaceful.

The newly proposed dying-moment dream hypothesis highlights the individual’s emotional history.

In the movie Ghost Town, Ricky Gervais’ character finds out he’d temporarily died during a routine procedure—and the hospital staff hadn’t told him. He confronts his surgeon, played by Kristen Wiig:

Wiig: “Everybody dies.”

Gervais: “Yeah, but usually at the end of their life, and just the once…”

Many of us assume death is a one-time deal. Yet, millions report coming surprisingly close. In a survey across 35 countries, the prevalence rate for near-death experiences (NDEs) was 10%.

What Happens in Your Dying Moments?

One surprising discovery is that as we expire, the brain doesn’t shut down all at once. A study of dying comatose patients showed a cascade of activity in different brain areas.

Researchers are working to match these neural changes to what the person reports feeling and thinking. Of course, they can’t do that with people who “don’t make the return flight.”

But some do make it back.

What Do People Recount From NDEs?

Many studies show common themes, including a peaceful feeling, a bright light, a meeting with another being, clear thinking, a dark place, an altered sense of time, and a return to the living.

Here's an example of a prototypical memory:

I left my body and saw people in scrubs working on me. Then, I floated toward a bright light. I reunited with my grandmother. I’m thinking, “I’m dead. This is awesome!” Someone said I must go back, and suddenly I was in the hospital.

The Good News: Most People Report Pleasant Emotions

The vast majority of NDE descriptions convey a happy finale.

Researchers in France and Belgium found that feelings of peace dominated the experience. Many also reported suddenly understanding everything and feeling joy.

In a multi-site study of cardiac arrest survivors, some patients reported feeling overwhelming peace and love during the time in which they were receiving CPR.

These findings suggest that the soundtrack for our final exit should be upbeat—more like Louis Armstrong's What a Wonderful World than The Rolling Stones’ Paint It........

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