October 2011 PMID 21852181

There is nothing paranormal about near-death experiences: how neuroscience can explain seeing bright lights, meeting the dead, or being convinced you are one of them.

Dean Mobbs, Caroline Watt

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Mentions

57
Peak: 2 in May 2019
across 6 sources since Jan 2013

Extended reach

77,644
potential audience

Total likes

1,155

Video views

61,736

Mentions per month

Jan 2013 – Jul 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News29 articles
  • X / Twitter10 posts
  • Blogs9 articles
  • Facebook5 posts
  • YouTube3 videos
  • Bluesky1 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The overall sentiment shows strong agreement with the article, exemplified by comments like 'There is nothing paranormal about near-death experiences' and references to scientific literature, which demonstrate deep engagement with the neurobiological explanations. Words like 'supported by literature' and phrases like 'brain activity, not supernatural events' emphasize the intent to clarify misconceptions and reinforce scientific consensus.

AgreementStrong agreement

Most discussions strongly support the article's claim that NDEs are explained by neuroscience, emphasizing scientific evidence and literature.

InterestModerate interest

Posts express moderate interest, especially through references to research and explanations, though some dismiss the topic as trivial or already understood.

EngagementHigh engagement

Many comments delve into detailed explanations and cite sources, reflecting deep engagement with the scientific content.

ImpactHigh impact

The discussions highlight that the article significantly influences views on NDEs, shifting perceptions from paranormal to scientific understanding.

Abstract in brief

  • Near-death experiences (NDEs) are often mistaken for paranormal phenomena, but neuroscience explains them as normal brain responses during trauma.
  • Common NDE features like seeing bright lights, meeting the dead, or feeling love are actually caused by brain activity, not supernatural events.
  • Research indicates that NDEs result from brain functions going astray in stressful situations, debunking the idea that they are evidence of an afterlife or paranormal activity.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
lakshdio28hy3d
@lakshdio28hy3d · X

La noción de vida después de la muerte es común en las doctrinas teológicas basadas en experiencias cercanas a la muerte. Pero se ha demostrado que estas experiencias son por un funcionamiento anormal del cerebro y que se pueden inducir artificialmente. https://t.co/kW8ZLbkiSk

Nov 2, 2021 · 5 likes · 1 share · 216 followers View post →
ArşimeTRe
@arsimetre · X

7. Mobbs, D. & Watt, C. (2011). There is nothing paranormal about near-death experiences: How neuroscience can explain seeing bright lights, meeting the dead, or being convinced you are one of them. Trends in Cognitive Sciences. Psikoloji ve Ölüm Korkusu ⬇️

May 13, 2025 · 1 like · 1,389 followers View post →
Osa Sapere! - AteoTube
@Osa_Sapere · X

@JattoniDallAsen @beretta_gio Le spiegazioni ci sono: https://t.co/7LQ1EAO4aw Riguardano la biologia pero'. Niente di banale, e' tutto fantasticamente complesso. es: https://t.co/uZSIsRcIjL

May 11, 2019 · 1 like · 1 share · 600 followers View post →
Gio
@beretta_gio · X

RT @AteoTube: @JattoniDallAsen @beretta_gio Le spiegazioni ci sono: https://t.co/7LQ1EAO4aw Riguardano la biologia pero'. Niente di banale,…

May 11, 2019 · 1 share · 8,558 followers View post →
Luís Arturo Hernández Arroyo
@LusArturoHA · X

@reina_padua @Juakins No hay nada de paranormal en las experiencias ECM que la ciencia no pueda explicar. https://t.co/8vXT1d6fH2

Nov 5, 2024 · 2,438 followers View post →
Manuel Muñoz
@munozemt · X

RT @ChrisAlgieba: La noción de vida después de la muerte es común en las doctrinas teológicas basadas en experiencias cercanas a la muerte.…

Nov 5, 2021 · 1 share · 876 followers View post →

All mentions

ArşimeTRe
@arsimetre · X

7. Mobbs, D. & Watt, C. (2011). There is nothing paranormal about near-death experiences: How neuroscience can explain seeing bright lights, meeting the dead, or being convinced you are one of them. Trends in Cognitive Sciences. Psikoloji ve Ölüm Korkusu ⬇️

May 13, 2025 · 1 like · 1,389 followers View post →
Devanaur
@DarkMassacres · X

There is nothing paranormal about near-death experiences: how neuroscience can explain seeing bright lights, meeting the dead, or being convinced ... - PubMed argues that NDEs are manifestations of normal brain function gone awry during trauma, not evidence of an afterlife.

Mar 26, 2025 · 682 followers View post →
Devanaur
@DarkMassacres · X

Near-death experiences are 'electrical surge in dying brain' - BBC News What is going on during a near-death experience? | HowStuffWorks Near-death experience - Wikipedia There is nothing paranormal about near-death experiences: how neuroscience can explain seeing

Mar 26, 2025 · 682 followers View post →
Luís Arturo Hernández Arroyo
@LusArturoHA · X

@reina_padua @Juakins No hay nada de paranormal en las experiencias ECM que la ciencia no pueda explicar. https://t.co/8vXT1d6fH2

Nov 5, 2024 · 2,438 followers View post →
Sceptic Musician ⚛️ | TST
@ScepticMusician · X

@kidmaryann1 @pastorlocke I'm just going to leave this here regarding the claim that near-death experiences are evidence for afterlives. https://t.co/Xa3aN1Ji9m

Oct 4, 2024 · 249 followers View post →
Duneslaya
@DuneSlaya · X

@vexentine @SydneyLWatson @Ycats1199 @stillgray ...literature. (https://t.co/HYTcgejiPv) Did you not read the article however? Because it's heavily supported by the available literature. In fact let's look at source 10. Which is used to understand the neurobiological mechanisms of nde's. (https://t.co/itOCkVQwCR) It goes...

Apr 15, 2023 · 211 followers View post →
Manuel Muñoz
@munozemt · X

RT @ChrisAlgieba: La noción de vida después de la muerte es común en las doctrinas teológicas basadas en experiencias cercanas a la muerte.…

Nov 5, 2021 · 1 share · 876 followers View post →
lakshdio28hy3d
@lakshdio28hy3d · X

La noción de vida después de la muerte es común en las doctrinas teológicas basadas en experiencias cercanas a la muerte. Pero se ha demostrado que estas experiencias son por un funcionamiento anormal del cerebro y que se pueden inducir artificialmente. https://t.co/kW8ZLbkiSk

Nov 2, 2021 · 5 likes · 1 share · 216 followers View post →
Gio
@beretta_gio · X

RT @AteoTube: @JattoniDallAsen @beretta_gio Le spiegazioni ci sono: https://t.co/7LQ1EAO4aw Riguardano la biologia pero'. Niente di banale,…

May 11, 2019 · 1 share · 8,558 followers View post →
Osa Sapere! - AteoTube
@Osa_Sapere · X

@JattoniDallAsen @beretta_gio Le spiegazioni ci sono: https://t.co/7LQ1EAO4aw Riguardano la biologia pero'. Niente di banale, e' tutto fantasticamente complesso. es: https://t.co/uZSIsRcIjL

May 11, 2019 · 1 like · 1 share · 600 followers View post →
Nick Byrd, Ph.D.
@byrdnick.com · Bluesky

Sorry folks, there is nothing paranormal about near-death experience [Mobbs & Watt, Trends Cogn Sci. 2011]. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21852181

Jan 28, 2013 View post →