The neuroscience of near-death experiences

Description

Near-death experiences (NDEs) are episodes of disconnected consciousness characterized by distinctive mystical features that arise in life-threatening situations. An increasing body of research investigates whether drug-induced experiences can serve as experimental models for NDEs. In this talk, she will present recent findings spanning large-scale semantic analyses, placebo-controlled studies administering psychedelics to healthy volunteers, and within-subject surveys of individuals who have experienced both an NDE and a psychedelic state. These complementary approaches reveal substantial overlaps in phenomenology, impact, and underlying neurophysiological mechanisms, while also highlighting distinctions between NDEs and drug-induced states. Together, these findings suggest that psychedelic states may provide valuable experimental models for advancing our understanding of the fascinating phenomenon of NDEs.


Speaker bio

Charlotte Martial (PhD) is a neuroscientist at the Coma Science Group (GIGA-Consciousness, University of Liège, Belgium), where she leads projects on the phenomenon of near-death experiences. More broadly, Charlotte studies conditions in which individuals are unresponsive —such as during general anesthesia or cardiac arrest— yet report episodes of consciousness, as evidenced by the detailed subjective accounts they provide upon recovery. In 2019, she joined the Centre for Psychedelic Research (Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, UK) as a postdoctoral researcher to further investigate comparisons between psychedelic experiences and near-death experiences, suggesting that the former may serve as laboratory models of the latter. She has published over 95 articles in international peer-reviewed journals such as Nature Reviews Neurology, Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Critical Care, and Science Advances, as well as several book chapters. Her work has been recognized with awards, including the prestigious Young Investigator Award from the International Brain Injury Association (IBIA).

Location
Online via Zoom (link will be sent closer to event date upon registration)

Registration

This is a free event. You can register via the form below. Donations are welcome if you support APRA’s cause of accessible, high quality education about psychedelics and altered states of consciousness.

When

October 22, 2025    
7:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Bookings

€0,00 - €4,99

Event Type

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Ticket Type Price Spaces
Standard (free) €0,00
Donation €4,99

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