“Mindsight” and other Peer-Reviewed Evidence of Vision-Like Perception in the Blind During NDEs and OBEs

👁️‍🗨️ “Mindsight” and other Peer-Reviewed Evidence of Vision-Like Perception in the Blind During NDEs and OBEs

There exists a growing body of peer-reviewed, well-documented cases in which blind individuals—including those blind from birth—report visual-like experiences during Near-Death Experiences (NDEs) or Out-of-Body Experiences (OBEs). These cases challenge conventional materialist explanations of consciousness and perception.

🔍 Ring & Cooper Study (1997) — Journal of Near-Death Studies

Kenneth Ring and Sharon Cooper conducted a landmark study involving:

Sample: 31 blind participants, including 14 who were congenitally blind
Key Findings:
- Nearly 80% reported vivid visual impressions during their NDEs or OBEs
- Participants described people, locations, light, their own bodies, and other scenes with confident visual language
Verification: Some accounts were independently corroborated by third parties, such as family members or medical staff

🧬 Illustrative Cases:

Vicki Noratuk (aka Vicki Umipeg): Blind from birth, she reported floating above her body, seeing surgical staff, recognizing her own body, and perceiving a tunnel of light—hallmark elements of classic NDEs.
Brad Barrows: Also blind from birth, he described seeing his roommate’s actions from above his hospital bed during an OBE—actions which were later confirmed by the roommate.

🧠 Harvey Irwin (1987) — Journal of Near-Death Studies

In a separate psychological survey of blind adults, Harvey Irwin found that:

OBEs among the blind are relatively rare, but
A small number of confirmed, visual-like experiences pose significant implications for how we understand perception and consciousness

🔄 Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

Scholars refer to this phenomenon as “mindsight”—a term coined by Ring & Cooper to describe vision-like perception without the use of eyes.
Mindsight appears as a cross-study pattern, especially among NDE and OBE reports from blind individuals.
Meta-analyses have documented similar metaphysical and veridical elements across cases, noting implications for neuroscience, theology, and consciousness research.

🛡 Credibility and Scientific Integrity

What separates these cases from anecdotal claims?

All the above studies are published in peer-reviewed journals, offering a degree of academic rigor
Several reports include external confirmation of what the blind experiencer claimed to have “seen”
Researchers took care to distinguish visual metaphor from actual perceptual content, even among those blind from birth
Skeptics suggest language-based conceptual learning or sensory substitution might explain some cases—but this fails to explain the accuracy and clarity of some first-hand reports

💡 Why Mindsight Matters

Insight	Description
Consistency Across Blindness Types	Individuals both blind from birth and those with acquired blindness report NDEs with rich visual content
More Than Linguistic Metaphor	Participants explicitly differentiate between imagined perception and the realness of their NDE vision
Partial Verifiability	While not every account is independently confirmed, several include external validation from third-party witnesses
Challenges Materialism	These cases raise difficult questions for purely brain-based models of consciousness and perception

🧭 What is Mindsight?

Mindsight refers to a mode of perception reported by blind NDErs in which they “see” using non-retinal, non-physical awareness. Ring & Cooper’s study highlighted these key traits:

Non-physical vision: Participants see without eyes—using what some call the “mind’s eye” or “spiritual body”
360° awareness: Unlike ordinary sight, this perception often includes omnidirectional awareness and complete clarity
Cognitive and emotional knowing: Mindsight is holistic—incorporating emotion, understanding, and direct intuitive insight
Corroborated events: In some cases, participants accurately described real-world details confirmed by others

✨ Implications

Challenges the assumption that consciousness and sensory awareness are strictly brain-dependent
Supports the possibility of a “spiritual” or non-material aspect of the self
Suggests that perception and consciousness may not be entirely neurobiological in origin
Opens new avenues for research into transpersonal consciousness and non-local perception

✅ Final Takeaway

Yes—peer-reviewed, academically rigorous studies document blind individuals (including those blind from birth) who report accurate, visual-like perception during NDEs. Please see the reference section for more examples of this. Some of these reports have been externally verified, and many include descriptions that strongly resemble sight, despite lifelong blindness.

This phenomenon—mindsight—does not disprove materialism, but it seriously complicates it. It suggests that consciousness may not be fully explained by brain activity alone and invites interdisciplinary research bridging neuroscience, philosophy, theology, and phenomenology.

📚 References

Ring, K., & Cooper, S. (1997). Near-Death and Out-of-Body Experiences in the Blind: A Study of Apparent Eyeless Vision. Journal of Near-Death Studies. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/a%3A1025010015662
Irwin, H. (1987). Out-of-Body Experiences in the Blind. Journal of Near-Death Studies. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/bf01073268
Ring, K. (n.d.). Mindsight. NDERF. https://www.nderf.org/NDERF/Books/Mindsight.htm
Mango, B. (n.d.). NDEs in the Blind. NDERF. https://www.nderf.org/NDERF/Articles/barbara_blind.htm
Gallant, J. (2018). Eyeless Vision. The Fortnightly Review. https://fortnightlyreview.co.uk/2018/09/side-sight-eyes/
Drasin, D. (n.d.). Mindsight Overview. https://www.dandrasin.com/mindsight
Frontiers in Psychology. (2023). Explanation of Near-Death Experiences: A Systematic Analysis of Case Reports and Qualitative Research. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1048929/full
ResearchGate. (n.d.). Near-Death Experiences: Between Spiritual Transmigration and Psychopathological Hallucinations. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267330185
Reddit. (n.d.). Discussions and Confirmations of Blind NDEs. https://www.reddit.com/r/consciousness/comments/1ipl2y0, https://www.reddit.com/r/afterlife/comments/icnqnn, https://www.reddit.com/r/NDE/comments/ijgk8n
UNT Digital Library. (n.d.). Page 113: Near-Death and Out-of-Body Experiences in the Blind. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark%3A/67531/metadc799333/m1/13

“Mindsight” and other Peer-Reviewed Evidence of Vision-Like Perception in the Blind During NDEs and OBEs