Pulling The Thread with Elise Loehnen Past-Life Memories, Near-Death Experiences, and More (Marieta Pehlivanova, PhD)
Feb 19, 2026
Marieta Pehlivanova, PhD, a research scientist at UVA’s Division of Perceptual Studies who studies past-life memory reports and near-death experiences. She discusses investigations of children’s past-life memories, biological links like birthmarks, comparisons with alternate explanations, trauma’s possible role, and how survival research could reshape how we think about consciousness and end-of-life care.
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Evidence Over Proof
- DOPS seeks evidence for the survival hypothesis rather than mathematical proof and finds children’s past-life claims especially fruitful.
- Marieta Pehlivanova says these cases yield verifiable, forensic-style evidence that challenges current brain-based memory models.
From Cases To Mechanisms
- DOPS is expanding from forensic case collection to studying mechanisms like memory differences in children with past-life claims.
- Pehlivanova proposes testing autobiographical memory and comparing performance to matched controls.
Trauma Often Appears In Cases
- Many reported past-life stories involve traumatic or unnatural deaths, not peaceful old age.
- Marieta links trauma to distinct behaviors and tests to see if trauma transfers across lives.