Neuroscience and the near-death experience: roles for the NMSA-PCP receptor, the sigma receptor and the endopsychosins.
The Near-Death Experience (NDE) is a dissociative mental state with characteristic features. These can be reproduced by ketamine which acts at sigma sites and blocks N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) linked phencyclidine (PCP) receptors to reduce ischaemic damage. Endogenous ligands, alpha and beta-endopsychosin, have been detected for these receptors which suggests an explanation for some NDE's: the endopsychosins may be released in abnormal quantity to protect neurons from ischaemic and other excitotoxic damage, and the NDE is a side effect on consciousness with important psychological functions.
Jansen
K L
KL
Department of Anatomy, University of Auckland Medical School, New Zealand.
D003243:Consciousness / Q000502:physiology; D003643:Death; D006801:Humans; D007649:Ketamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D009488:Neurosciences; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017480:Receptors, sigma
D009479:Neuropeptides; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D017480:Receptors, sigma; D007649:Ketamine; C047130:alpha-endopsychosin