source_tier,source,citation,population_or_scope,sample_size,key_finding,rate_or_effect,note
meta_analytic_review,Alderson-Day Moseley Moffatt et al. 2023,Lancet Psychiatry — The Felt-Presence Experience: From Cognition to the Clinic,Comprehensive review transdiagnostic,review of multiple studies,Felt presence is a real neurocognitive phenomenon with identified neural basis (posterior insula and temporoparietal junction) and is experimentally inducible (Blanke lab Geneva),Transdiagnostic: meditation bereavement isolation psychedelics spiritual practice clinical conditions,Strongest current source — peer-reviewed 2023 review
meta_analytic_review,Kamp Steffen Alderson-Day et al. 2020,Schizophrenia Bulletin 46: 1367-1381 — Sensory and Quasi-Sensory Experiences of the Deceased in Bereavement,Interdisciplinary integrative review,review integrating phenomenological clinical and cultural literatures,Post-bereavement sensory and quasi-sensory experiences are common normal non-pathological and cross-cultural,High prevalence consistently reported across studies,Integrates clinical and cultural research
meta_analytic_review,Sabucedo Evans Hayes 2023,Transcultural Psychiatry — Perceiving Those Who Are Gone: Cultural Research on Post-Bereavement Perception of the Deceased,Cross-cultural review,multiple cultures and traditions,Post-bereavement perception of deceased is cross-cultural not an artifact of any one population or belief system,Rates of 30 to 60 percent commonly reported across cultures,Addresses the critique that older data is Western-specific
systematic_review,Castelnovo Cavallotti Gambini D'Agostino 2015,Journal of Affective Disorders — Post-Bereavement Hallucinatory Experiences: A Critical Overview,Systematic review of population and clinical studies,multiple studies reviewed,Very high prevalence among widowed subjects confirmed across methodologies; normal vs pathological grief debate,Consistent high rates across methodologies,Aggregates across studies — addresses any single-study critique
modern_large_sample,Castelnovo et al. 2021,BJPsych Open — The Phenomenology and Impact of Hallucinations Concerning the Deceased,Three-language-group phenomenological study,991 valid responses age 18 to 89,Confirmed Rees 1971 findings with much larger sample and improved methodology,Rees foundational findings replicated at scale,Addresses small-sample concerns about older foundational work
narrative_review,Keen Murray Payne 2013,Mental Health Religion and Culture 16: 384-402 — Sensing the Presence of the Deceased,Narrative review,36 qualifying studies,Sensed-presence experiences common benign and cross-cultural,Consistent reporting across studies,Precursor review
historical_foundation,Rees 1971,British Medical Journal 4: 37-41 — The Hallucinations of Widowhood,Welsh widows and widowers,293 (80.7 percent of defined-area population),46.7 percent had hallucinations or illusions of dead spouse; 39 percent sensed presence; no variation by culture place or depression status,Rees regarded as normal and helpful accompaniment of widowhood,Historical foundation — replicated many times since
historical_foundation,Grimby 1993,Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 87: 72-80 — Bereavement Among Elderly People,Swedish widows elderly,50,82 percent any hallucination or illusion of deceased spouse,Small sample high rate,Consistent with larger modern samples
historical_foundation,Yamamoto et al. 1969,American Journal of Psychiatry 125: 1660-1665 — Mourning in Japan,Japanese traditional mourning,study population,Ancestor-presence experiences near-universal in traditional cultural context,High prevalence in traditional framework,Historical cross-cultural evidence
historical_foundation,Klass Silverman Nickman 1996,Continuing Bonds: New Understandings of Grief (book),Parents of deceased children,continuing-bonds research program,60 to 70 percent of bereaved parents report visionary experiences of deceased child,Research program rather than single study,Foundational for continuing-bonds framework
nt_comparison,1 Cor 15:3-8 Pauline creed,Dated c. AD 35 to 38 — within 3 to 5 years of crucifixion,Early Jerusalem community,"6+ named: Cephas the Twelve 500 brethren James all apostles Paul",Group post-death appearances of Jesus reported; structurally compatible with documented post-bereavement visionary base rates,Within 3-5 year window of crucifixion,Lens 2 claim: this reported experience sits within the documented range of human post-bereavement experience