Near-death experiences may be triggered by serotonin

[twilyth]

Sorry to be slow and out of touch, but I see a lot of lately and have no idea what it means?!

Don't listen to people who say it's a sideways heart. It's really a sideways nutsack.

I saw a documentary on this years ago and for people who go on to survive, NDE's are often a life changing event. What they experience is so profound that they don't even feel like they are the same person they used to be.

 

[qubit]

Don't listen to people who say it's a sideways heart. It's really a sideways nutsack.

Thanks, I think I'll steer clear of it...

I saw a documentary on this years ago and for people who go on to survive, NDE's are often a life changing event. What they experience is so profound that they don't even feel like they are the same person they used to be.

I'm sure that's true. It's the ultimate subjective effect, isn't it? Their brain has changed in one or more important ways (likely damaged, unfortunately) so I'll bet they feel different. The good news, is that the brain does actually have strong powers of self healing. I thought it couldn't heal itself, until I saw a documentary on coma patients and how the brain repairs itself after extensive injury. It's not always successful of course and will often not be as good, but the repair system is very much there and is why some people wake up from their coma. I guess that repair system is how drug addicts can often go for years abusing themselves with that awful stuff. :shadedshu

 

[twilyth]

I'm probably an example of that phenomenon, but until fairly recently, it was widely believed that the brain couldn't create new neurons. As it turns out, that may be the mechanism behind SSRI anti-depressants. Plasticity does decrease with age though, so a person who suffers brain trauma before age 6 or 7 has a much better chance of a full recovery.

 

[qubit]

Hey, I'm sorry to hear you've suffered head trauma. I hope you're doing fine in everyday life.

 

[CrAsHnBuRnXp]

I believe House touched on this in one of his episdoes where Cuddy made him cover a class for another doctor who fell ill to a cup that was painted with led based paint.