Exceptional Experiences and Altered States of Consciousness

Terminal Lucidity

The term “terminal lucidity” refers to an unexpected surge of mental clarity in confused or even unconscious patients shortly before death. This phenomenon was described many times, particularly in the 19th century, but has hardly been discussed in recent decades. In 2009, Michael Nahm coined the term “terminal lucidity” to help bring it back to the attention of physicians and scientists.

However, unexpected episodes of mental clarity do not only occur before death. Co-authors and I have coined the related term “paradoxical lucidity” for cases in which patients with severe neurological conditions show an unexpected surge of mental clarity also at times that precede their death considerably. Since then, many scientists, particularly in the field of dementia research, have begun to study terminal and paradoxical lucidity. These studies could shed light on our understanding of the interplay between the human mind and brain and lead to the development of new therapies.

Buchcover "Wenn die Dunkelheit ein Ende findet". Von Michael Nahm
Nahm, M. (2012). Wenn die Dunkelheit ein Ende findet. Terminale Geistesklarheit und andere Phänomene in Todesnähe. Amerang: Crotona
Project Team
Publications

Nahm, M. (2022). The importance of the exceptional in tackling riddles of consciousness and unusual episodes of lucidity. Journal of Anomalous Experience and Cognition, 2(2), 264–296. https://doi.org/10.31156/jaex.24028

Nahm, M. (2022). Terminal lucidity versus paradoxical lucidity: A terminological clarification. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 18(3), 538–539. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.12574

Mashour, G. A., Frank, L., Batthyany, A., Kolanowski, A. M., Nahm, M., Schulman-Green, D., Greyson, B., Pakhomov, S., Karlawish, J., & Shah, R. C. (2019). Paradoxical lucidity: A potential paradigm shift for the neurobiology and treatment of severe dementias. Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, 15(8), 1107–1114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jalz.2019.04.002

Nahm, M. (2017). Terminal lucidity. Psi Encyclopedia. https://psi-encyclopedia.spr.ac.uk/articles/terminal-lucidity

Nahm, M., & Greyson, B. (2014). The death of Anna Katharina Ehmer: A case study in terminal lucidity. Omega, 68(1), 77–87. https://doi.org/10.2190/OM.68.1.e

Nahm, M. (2013). Terminale Geistesklarheit und andere Rätsel des menschlichen Bewusstseins. In A. Serwaty & J. Nicolay (Hrsg.), Nahtoderfahrung und Bewusstseinsforschung (S. 78–134). Santiago.

Nahm, M. (2012). Wenn die Dunkelheit ein Ende findet: Terminale Geistesklarheit und andere Phänomene in Todesnähe. Crotona.

Nahm M, Greyson B, Kelly EW, Haraldsson E (2012). Terminal lucidity: A review and a case collection. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 55(1), 138-142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2011.06.031

Nahm, M., Greyson, B., Kelly, E. W., & Haraldsson, E. (2012). Terminal lucidity: A review and a case collection. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 55(1), 138–142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2011.06.031

Nahm, M. (2009). Terminal lucidity in people with mental illness and other mental disability: An overview and implications for possible explanatory models. Journal of Near-Death Studies, 28(2), 87–106. https://doi.org/10.17514/JNDS-2009-28-2-p87-106.

Nahm, M., & Greyson, B. (2009). Terminal lucidity in patients with chronic schizophrenia and dementia: A survey of the literature. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 197(12), 942–944. https://doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0b013e3181c22583