Researchers who study near-death experiences say they believe in a consciousness beyond our physical reality. Tucker studies near-death experiences and young children who report memories of a past life. Penberthy studies both near-death experiences and after-death communications, or people who say they were visited by a deceased loved one. supersizer/Getty ImagesMany people with near-death experiences also report having the same visions as one another. From there, people with near-death experiences describe traveling through a dark passage, Tucker said.

---

Persons: —, Jim Tucker, Jennifer Kim Penberthy, Tucker, Penberthy, Ryan Hammons, Hammons, Marty Martyn, he's, it's, Critics, Justin Paget, who've Organizations: University of Virginia, Service, Hollywood, SXSW, University of Louisville, Getty Locations: Austin , Texas, Hollywood