Seeing the light or facing the void? Study explores what happens when people near death

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What happens to the human mind when people come close to death? A recent study from the University of Virginia provides new insights into near-death experiences, or NDEs. Researchers found that about 15 percent of patients who survive life-threatening medical crises report extraordinary experiences. These often include sensations of floating outside the body, moving through a tunnel toward a bright light, or feeling an overwhelming sense of peace.

To better understand the impact of these experiences, scientists in UVA’s Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences surveyed 167 individuals who reported undergoing an NDE. The results, published in the journal Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research and Practice, suggest that these moments can leave lasting effects on both psychological and spiritual levels.

Transformations in belief and perspective

The study found that nearly 70 percent of participants experienced significant changes in their religious or spiritual beliefs after their encounter with death. Many also reported a reduced fear of dying. For some, the experience represented a profound psychological rupture that altered the way they viewed the world.

However, not all consequences were positive. More than 20 percent of participants faced disruptions in personal relationships, including divorces. Feelings of isolation and alienation were also reported, as survivors often struggled to explain what they had experienced or worried about being dismissed.

The research also revealed that around 64 percent of participants sought professional or spiritual guidance following their NDE. Of those, 78 percent reported that the support was helpful, although many noted difficulties in finding understanding.

Lead researcher Marieta Pehlivanova said the team hopes the findings will encourage the medical community to pay closer attention to this phenomenon. “The research on how to support these patients and their specific needs is still limited. We hope to begin addressing this gap and inspire clinicians to devote time and care in pursuing these questions," Pehlivanova told the New York Post.

The UVA study sheds light on how near-death experiences can dramatically reshape lives, highlighting both the profound insights and the challenges that survivors may face in the aftermath.