Forty-five years ago, the first evidence of near-death experience (NDE) during comatose state was provided, setting the stage for a new paradigm for studying the neural basis of consciousness in unresponsive states. At present, the state of consciousness associated with NDEs remains an open question. In the common view, consciousness is said to disappear in a coma with the brain shutting down, but this is an oversimplification. We argue that a novel framework distinguishing awareness, wakefulness, and connectedness is needed to comprehend the phenomenon. Classical NDEs correspond to internal awareness experienced in unresponsive conditions, thereby corresponding to an episode of disconnected consciousness. Our proposal suggests new directions for NDE research, and more broadly, consciousness science.

中文翻译：

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濒死体验作为探索（断开）意识的探针

四十五年前，提供了昏迷状态下濒死体验 (NDE) 的第一个证据，为研究无反应状态下意识的神经基础的新范式奠定了基础。目前，与濒死体验相关的意识状态仍然是一个悬而未决的问题。在普遍的观点中，据说意识会随着大脑关闭而在昏迷中消失，但这是一种过于简单化的说法。我们认为，需要一个区分意识、觉醒和连通性的新框架来理解这种现象。经典的濒死体验对应于在无反应条件下经历的内部意识，从而对应于意识断开的情节。我们的提议为 NDE 研究以及更广泛的意识科学提出了新的方向。