In his book, The Omega Project, Kenneth Ring demonstrated that there are startling similarities between persons claiming to have undergone alien abductions and those who have had a near-death experience. Many aspects of their childhoods as well as the changes they undergo following their experiences show uncanny parallels. In light of his findings, Dr. Ring posits the existence of an "encounter-prone personality" – a distinctive, spiritually sensitive and ecologically-oriented individual who, collectively, may represent the next stage in human evolution.