Study Highlights Children’s Excluded Near-Death Experiences
In recent decades, near-death experiences (NDEs) have emerged as a fascinating area of study in understanding consciousness. However, a significant gap exists: children’s experiences are often overlooked.
A new literature review spanning almost 40 years of NDE research indicates that children’s insights are rarely included. Researchers argue for a more thorough examination of these experiences in children, particularly using arts- and play-based methods. Such approaches might yield descriptions that are less influenced by cultural or religious biases, revealing more fundamental aspects of NDEs.
While NDEs can happen to anyone—including children—this demographic is frequently sidelined in research discussions. A recent study published in the journal Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice points out that few researchers engage directly with children, despite their potential to enrich our understanding of the human mind.
Conducted by Donna Thomas from the University of Lancashire and Graeme O’Connor, a pediatric dietitian at Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, the literature review accessed studies from 1983 to 2020. Only eight directly involved children in their findings.
The authors observed that the majority of claims surrounding NDEs rely heavily on adult experiences. They remarked that “children need to be lifted out of the footnotes” to better appreciate how their NDEs compare to those of adults.
For quite some time, scientists have recognized NDEs as valuable insights into consciousness. Over the years, researchers have identified common elements in these experiences, such as feelings of peace and out-of-body sensations. Initial studies from the late 1970s and early 1980s captured interest for seemingly contradicting established beliefs about brain function.
The authors suggested that NDEs challenge conventional physicalist understandings of consciousness, prompting some scientists to consider the mind as potentially existing beyond the brain, which expands discussions surrounding NDEs.
In their review, Thomas and O’Connor noted that children reported similar core features during NDEs, like tunnels and bright lights. In their own pilot study from 2024, they utilized arts-based methods to interview seven children who had undergone cardiac arrest, rather than applying more direct questioning techniques typically used with adults.
Interestingly, the children’s accounts lacked some familiar adult NDE features, such as life reviews or messages from deceased loved ones. Cultural and religious factors appeared minimal in their experiences, suggesting a more “raw” nature to children’s NDEs that could be particularly insightful for research.
Understanding NDEs better might enhance our grasp of consciousness, but researchers stress the need for more comprehensive data. As resuscitation technology continues to evolve, the likelihood of more individuals experiencing NDEs instead of simply passing away increases. With this emerging data, the call remains clear: researchers urge for greater attention to children’s NDEs for the advancement of understanding in this field.
