[dvas]

Always wondered if the likes of DMT or trace amounts of it contribute to these experiences similar to how adrenaline is produced during fight/flight response.

Could it be possible that the brain sensing no more blood is being supplied then triggers a mechanism to release this chemical (and in what quantities)? Wildly speculating as a layman, however, maybe there is a link between dream states / DMT production/synthesis and these experiences which are yet to be explored further.

[fhqwhgads]

This is totally a thing!

https://med.virginia.edu/perceptual-studies/wp-content/uploa...

https://analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/do...

[mike_hock]

It's interesting that the neuroprotective chemicals also happen to result in a pleasant feeling, as there would have been no evolutionary pressure whatsoever to make a physiological state that's almost exclusively experienced just before death feel like anything in particular. Anything from bliss to agonizing pain to nothing would have been equally viable.

[Liquix]

In fact there may be an evolutionary advantage in doing the opposite - flooding the system with stress/fear chemicals at the time of death. Predators would likely prefer to avoid tense, stringy meat reeking of primal panic and feces.

[hydrok9]

Doubtful, given the amount of large predators that eat carrion and prey on sick and weak individuals in a herd.