Researchers at the University of Haifa have identified a recurring pattern of shapes and colors in near-death experiences (NDEs) after analyzing visual maps drawn by 50 participants.
The study, published in Frontiers in Psychology, suggests that the human mind does not simply go blank during these moments, but instead processes complex, structured visual information. The team compiled 112 distinct visions, categorizing them into four primary configurations: cones, curves, horizons, and spherical spaces.
Scientific Context and Methodology
While near-death experiences are notoriously hard to study scientifically, researchers have sought more concrete data than verbal descriptions of tunnels and lights. According to Bruce Greyson, a University of Virginia psychiatrist who has studied these events for decades, between 10% and 20% of cardiac arrest survivors report having an NDE.
To move beyond anecdotal evidence, the Haifa team utilized a dual-method design, requiring participants to complete a digital questionnaire alongside a graphic reconstruction task. This approach was intended to capture experiential features of out-of-body experiences (OBEs) and NDEs that may not be conveyed through verbal reports alone.
Color Patterns Linked to Specific Shapes
The research revealed a striking correlation between the geometry of the perceived space and the presence of color. In conical structures, which often resemble the classic “tunnel of light,” participants reported an absence of color in 22 out of 28 reconstructed spaces, describing the experience as absolute darkness or a black void.
In contrast, broader, curved spaces such as archways were associated with high chromatic richness. Data showed that 87% of accounts involving these open arches featured intense colors, particularly lavender and pink tones. Among 31 broad, curved spaces, 27 were remembered in color. Spherical spaces were most frequently associated with white or golden hues, while flat horizons displayed color in roughly 59% to 65% of cases.
“Exploratory analyses indicated variation in chromatic perceptual qualities across these configurations, although evidence for differences among configurations was not uniform across statistical analyses,” the study in Frontiers in Psychology said.
Memory Recall and Lack of Video Recordings Limit Study
The study acknowledges methodological challenges in documenting subjective phenomena. Because many participants were recalling events from years earlier, researchers said that memory may have altered the details over time. The individual sessions were not video-recorded, limiting the team's ability to review the nuances of the participants' movements and verbal descriptions later. Future protocols are expected to incorporate larger samples and video-recorded sessions to allow for more systematic analysis.
Potential Biological Explanations
Reduced oxygen supply to the brain can induce tunnel vision, which may account for the common reports of conical or tunnel-like spaces. Under dim conditions, human eyes naturally become less sensitive to color as low-light cells take over, potentially explaining the achromatic nature of many tunnel visions. Researchers also said that the broad, expansive spaces described might relate to the Ganzfeld phenomenon.
Common Questions About NDE Mapping
How many people participated in the University of Haifa study? The study analyzed the experiences of 50 individuals who are members of the International Association for Near-Death Studies.
What are the four main geometric categories identified? The researchers categorized the visual experiences into cones, curved spaces (such as archways), flat horizons, and spherical or oval spaces.
Why did researchers use drawings instead of just interviews? The study authors said that near-death experiences often exceed the limits of verbal expression, making graphic reconstruction a useful tool to document spatial and visual details that words alone cannot capture.
What do the findings suggest about visual processing? The study indicates that the reported emergence of Visual Mental Imagery varies across different visual-field configurations, suggesting that some perceptual qualities in NDEs resemble alterations of visual field organization seen in other neurological research.
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