Abstract
Further research into the question of veridical perception during the “naturalistic” near-death out-of-body experience (nND OBE), that phase of the near-death experience in which the experiencer seems to be perceiving a normal earthly realm, would be of value to NDErs, their caregivers, and humanity in general. I propose a research procedure that targets visual perception during nND OBEs that occur in the hospital setting. I discuss unresolved issues in the design and implementation of such a procedure, and identify areas for further research.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alvarado, C. S. (1982). ESP during out-of-body experiences: A review of experimental studies.Journal of Parapsychology, 46, 209–230.
Alvarado, C. S. (1983). ESP and out-of-body experiences: A review of spontaneous studies.Parapsychology Review, 9, (4), 11–13.
Alvarado, C. S. (1984). Phenomenological aspects of out-of-body experiences: A report of three studies.Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research, 78, 219–240.
Anderson, R. I. (1981). Contemporary survival research: A critical review.Parapsychology Review, 12, (5), 8–13.
Bates, B. C., & Stanley, A. (1985). The epidemiology and differential diagnosis of near-death experience.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 55, 542–549.
Blackmore, S. J. (1982a). Have you ever had an OBE? The wording of the question.Journal of the Society for Psychical Research, 51, 292–302.
Blackmore, S. J. (1982b). Parapsychology—With or without the OBE?Parapsychology Review, 13(6), 1–7.
Blackmore, S. J. (1984). A postal survey of OBEs and other experiences.Journal of the Society for Psychical Research, 57, 225–244.
Blackmore, S. J. (1985). Susan Blackmore replies [Letter to the editor].Anabiosis, 5(1), 79–82.
Clark, K. (1984). Clinical interventions with near-death experiencers. In B. Greyson & C. P. Flynn (Eds.),The near-death experience: Problems, prospects, perspectives (pp. 242–255). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.
Fuller, J. G. (1969).The great soul, trial. Toronto, Ontario: Macmillan.
Gabbard, G. O. & Twemlow, S. W. (1984).With the eyes of the mind: An empirical analysis of out-of-body states. New York: Praeger.
Garfield, C. A. (1979). The dying patient's concern with ‘life after death’. In R. Kastenbaum (Ed.),Between life and death (pp. 45–60) New York: Springer.
Green, C. E. (1968).Out-of-the-body experiences. Oxford: Institute for Psychophysical Research.
Green, J. T., & Friedman, P. (1983). Near-death experiences in a Southern California population.Anabiosis, 3, 77–95.
Grey, M. (1985).Return from death: An exploration of the near-death experience. New York: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
Greyson, B. (1984). The near-death experience scale. In B. Greyson & C. P. Flynn (Eds.),The near-death experience: Problems, prospects, perspectives (pp. 45–60). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.
Greyson, B., & Harris, B. (1987). Clinical approaches to the near-death experiencer.Journal of Near-Death Studies, 6, 41–52.
Grosso, M. (1982). Toward an explanation of near-death phenomena. In C. R. Lundahl (Ed.),A collection of near-death research readings (pp. 205–230) Chicago: Nelson-Hall.
Irwin, H. J. (1985).Flight of mind: A psychological study of the out-of-body experience. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press.
Jung, C. G. (1961).Memories, dreams, reflections. New York: Radom House.
Kahn, E., Dement, W., Fisher, C., & Barmack, J. E. (1962), September). Incidence of color in immediately recalled dreams.Science, 32, 1054–1055.
Krishnan, V. (1982). Out-of-the-body vision.Parapsychology Review, 13(2), 21–22.
Lundahl, C. R. (1982). Directions in near-death research. In C. R. Lundahl (Ed.),A collection of near-death research readings (pp. 233–240). Chicago: Nelson-Hall.
Moody, R. A. Jr. (1975).Life after life. Covington, GA: Mockingbird.
Morris, R. L. (1978). Research on out-of-body experiences. In W. G. Roll & R. L. Morris (Eds.),Research in Parapsychology 1977 (pp. 11–12). Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press.
Noyes, R. (1979). Near-death experiences: Their interpretation and significance. In R. Kastenbaum (Ed.),Between life and death (pp. 73–88). New York: Springer.
Noyes, R., & Slymen, D. J. (1978–79). The subjective response to life-threatening danger.Omega, 9, 313–321.
Oakes, A. R. (1981). Near-death events and critical care nursing.Topics in Clinical Nursing, 3(3), 61–78.
Osis, K. (1973). Toward a methodology for experiments on the out-of-the-body experiences. In W. G. Roll, R. L. Morris & J. D. Morris (Eds.),Research in Parapsychology 1972 (pp. 78–79). New York: Scarecrow Press.
Osis, K. (1974). Perspectives for out-of-body research. In W. G. Roll, R. L. Morris, & J. D. Morris (Eds.),Research in Parapsychology 1973 (pp. 110–113). Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press.
Osis, K. (1975). Perceptual experiments on out-of-body experiences. In J. D. Morris, W. G. Roll, & R. L. Morris (Eds.),Research in Parapsychology 1974 (pp. 53–55) Metuchen NJ: Scarecrow Press.
Palmer, J. (1978). The out-of-body experience: A psychological theory.Parapsychology Review, 9(5), 19–22.
Palmer, J., & Lieberman, R. (1975). The influence of psychological set on ESP and out-of-body experiences.Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research, 69, 193–213.
Palmer, J., & Lieberman, R. (1976). ESP and out-of-body experiences: A further study. In J. D. Morris, W. G. Roll, & R. L. Morris (Eds.),Research in Parapsychology 1975 (pp. 102–106). Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press.
Palmer, J., & Vassar, C., (1974, March). ESP and out-of-the-body experiences: An exploratory study.Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research, 68, 256–280.
Ring, K. (1980).Life at death. New York: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan.
Ring, K. (1984a).Heading toward omega. New York: William Morrow.
Ring, K. (1984b) Near-death studies: An overview. In B. Greyson & C. P. Flynn (Eds.),The near-death experience: Problems, prospects, perspectives (pp. 5–16). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.
Ring, K. (1986, October),In search of the meaning of the near-death experience. Speech presented at a conference for The Center for Development in Ministry, Chicago, IL.
Rogo, D. S. (1984). Researching the out-of-body experience: The state of the art.Anabiosis, 4, 21–49.
Rogo, D. S. (1986).Life after death: The case for survival of bodily death. Wellingborough, Northamptonshire: Aquarian Press.
Sabom, M. B. (1982).Recollections of death: A medical investigation, New York: Harper and Row.
Smith, P., & Irwin, H. (1981). Out-of-body experiences, needs and the experimental approach: A laboratory study.Parapsychology Review, 12(3), 1–4.
Tart, C. T. (1967). A second psychophysiological study of out-of-the-body experiences in a gifted subject.International Journal of Parapsychology, 9, 251–258.
Tart, C. T. (1968). A psychophysiological study of out-of-the-body experiences in a selected subject.Journal of The American Society for Psychical Research, 62, 3–27.
Tart, C. T. (1975). Some assumptions of orthodox, Western psychology. In C. T. Tart (Ed.),Transpersonal psychologies (pp. 59–111) New York: Harper & Row.
Widdison, H. A. (1982). Near-death experiences and the unscientific scientist. In C. R. Lundahl (Ed.),A collection of near-death research readings (pp. 3–17). Chicago: Nelson-Hall.
Woodhouse, M. B. (1983). Five arguments regarding the objectivity of NDEs.Anabiosis, 3, 63–75.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Holden, J.M. Rationale and considerations for proposed near-death research in the hospital setting. J Near-Death Stud 7, 19–31 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01076746
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01076746