Blog #2- Scouting the Territory

I have decided to stick with my initial topic idea since I find the topic very interesting. Near death experiences give insight into the unknown questions of the world, so a research project all about them would be fascinating. 

There are many articles and material regarding near death experiences online. Some try to explain the science behind NDE's, while others discuss what a near death experience can reveal about the brain. A Google search of just "near death experiences" brings up plenty of research and readings. From CNN to Wikipedia, there is a multitude of information available about NDEs. While, a search on Google Scholar brings up lots of academic articles regarding near death experiences and what we can learn from them. I do not think I will have any trouble finding research and sources about near death experiences as they seem to be widely studied. 

The Netflix show I recommended is inspired by Leslie Kean's "Surviving Death". After looking on my local library's database, I found this book is available, so I may check it out soon. In addition, a search on Amazon brings up thousands of books about near death experiences and the afterlife. A search on Rutgers Library database brings up over a million results, which includes books, articles, and more. 

After researching this topic for a bit, I realized that I want to discuss either the effects of a near death experience or what the similarities and differences between different individuals' NDEs show. When someone has a NDE, the commonly lose their fear of death and feel a new purpose in life. However, there are also some negatives. Individuals may feel disconnected from their family and friends and reexamine their relationships. In fact, divorce is very common after one partner has a NDE. While this topic is interesting, I am more drawn to examine the similarities and differences in NDEs. Most people describe a warm sensation, no sense of time, and otherworldly experiences. However, each near death experience is unique and can entail different visions. 

Here are resources I found that I believe will be helpful in my research:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/understanding-grief/201803/aftereffects-the-near-death-experience 

This article discusses the after effects of a near death experience. This article could be useful if I choose to go this route.

http://www.mit.edu/people/rei/spir-nde.html

This article discusses the variation among near death experiences and what they could signal. 

The biggest controversy I found in the research and articles about NDEs was the question of whether or not near death experiences are something beyond the brain or something in the brain, as in psychedelics. Nevertheless, there is research supporting both sides, so I am excited to research more to form my opinion.