Another problem is the memory of the witnesses, like in the "shoe incident" described in the article. It's been known that people who come to believe they are witnessing something extraordinary suffer from great amounts of confirmation bias and other memory-distorting psychological effects.
Finally, as always, extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof. NDE is a fascinating topic deserving rigorous scientific study – one that might shed light on some of the mind's mysteries – but in no way should a relatively small number of reports change our complete view of the mind-brain problem.
I understand that memory of things will practically dead might be possible, and while the science goes over my head, I'm fine with that. Even "looking down on yourself" can be achieved with a.) science of still remembering something and b.) imagination
But figuring out something no-where near your body, like the shoe outside... short of a non-scientific explanation (e.g. religious), I really can't see how that could ever be possible.
"Materialistic scientists have proposed a number of physiological explanations to account for the various features of NDEs."
Obviously, the author doesn't consider himself a "materialistic scientist."
This doesn't change the fact that NDEs are an interesting phenomenon, and we're not quite sure what's going on with them. Still, I'll bet money that they're not going to tell us anything new about physics.
"Non-materialist neuroscience has failed every single one of the categories. Its basic framework is unwieldy and does not provide any clear, specific, falsifiable predictions. What few tests might be imagined for it have all turned up evidence strongly against its basic predictions. It has failed to advance knowledge, create new hypotheses and definitely has not made clear how it will aid in helping us understand and treat brain injuries or illnesses. It has been a complete flop scientifically. So why the sudden surge in books and publications pushing it? We are dealing with a political and religious movement just as we have dealt with in intelligent design and creationism."
Having experimented with Lucid Dreaming... I'll call bullshit.
> NDE studies also suggest that after physical death, mind and consciousness may continue in a transcendent level of reality that normally is not accessible to our senses and awareness.
By definition, if the instrument that is failing is the one that is measuring (itself!), you're not going to get results that tell you anything at all.
I encourage everybody to try lucid dreaming, it's very instructive. After my experiences, I'm 100% certain that it is responsible for everything from alien abductions to NDEs.
It's a lot of fun, too! Not to mention a lot cheaper and safer than experimenting with street drugs, although usually, you have to pay for the difference with patience.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eben_Alexander_(author)
No science behind it, etc..
It seems to me even reading about the critics that Neurology is a very young science with not all its Science Processes and Measure snot fully established yet..
There is also little attempt made to veil an implicit contempt for 'materialistic scientists'.
