On this basis, we hypothesized that, analogous to an unusually sensitive arousal system underlying REM intrusion, an increased susceptibility of the brain to spreading depolarization (SD), the assumed pathophysiological correlate of migraine aura, could predispose people to NDE. To test this hypothesis, we recruited a large global sample of laypersons and investigated if the lifetime occurrence of migraine aura is more common in people with NDE.