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people are having outside the laboratory.
The most recent research in the field of near-death studies has focused on the aftereffects of the NDE. These aftereffects include a pattern of changes in the NDEr that psychology professor Kenneth Ring has interpreted to be "indicative of a generalized awakening of higher human potential." 21 Research data of Ring, Greyson, Kohr, and Morse indicate that a significant number of near-death experiencers have at the same time convincing validated psychic experiences.22 They see not only the light at the end of a spiritual tunnel, but also verifiable events that occurred during their period of unconsciousness.
George Gallup, Jr. reports in Adventures in Immortality on the results of a Gallup Poll on the prevalence of near-death experiences.23 The apparent remote-viewing capabilities that accompany many NDErs during their out-of-body experiences are particularly interesting. Gallup tells us that of the approximately 160 million adult Americans alive at the time of his survey, one in twenty, or an estimated eight million adult Americans, have likely had an NDE. The spontaneous experience of remote viewing that occurs to a sizable number of NDErs is increasing the awareness of psi abilities for countless people who never would have given ESP a second thought.
Near-death researcher Ring points out in his book Heading Toward Omega that even if Gallup's estimate were off by millions of people, the near-death experience is becoming a "very significant and pervasive phenomenon" in our society, occurring to millions, and indirectly touching the lives of millions of others.24 Gallup reports that slightly more than a third of those adults who come close to death today in our country undergo an NDE, in addition to an unknown number of children. Ring adds, "Because of the highly developed state of our resuscitation technology, we can safely assume that millions more will have this experience themselves in the years to come. . . ."25 NDE statistics are included here because we believe this enduring phenomenon will be significant to the field of psychic research in the coming years.
Although the actual cause of the near-death experience needs clarification, researchers agree that a common outcome is the transformation of

 
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