Recently, neuroscientists recorded for the first time the brain activity of a person just before and after cardiac arrest, providing insights into what someone may experience in their final moments. A group of American and Canadian neuroscientists succeeded in recording the activities of a dying human brain.
A study detailing the case was published in the journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. According to the study, people may see their lives flash before their eyes before death.
The research was conducted on an 87-year-old patient hospitalized for epilepsy, who suffered cardiac arrest while doctors were monitoring his neurological activity through an electroencephalogram (EEG). Doctors had attached an EEG device to the patient's head to examine brain waves, capturing his brain activity for 900 seconds.
The scientists focused particularly on the 30 seconds before and after the cessation of cardiac function. This provided the first evidence of what happens in the brain moments before death, as they observed activity during the crucial seconds surrounding the patient's heart stopping.
Just before and after the heart stopped functioning, changes in a specific range of neural oscillations—including gamma, delta, theta, alpha, and beta waves—were observed. The EEG recorded alterations in gamma oscillations, which are associated with memories and involved in high-level cognitive functions such as memory recall, closely tied to consciousness.
“By generating brain oscillations involved in memory recall, the brain may be recalling significant life events just before we die, similar to those reported in near-death experiences,” said Dr. Ajmal Zemmar from the University of Louisville. “These results challenge our understanding of exactly when life ends and raise important subsequent questions, such as those related to the timing of organ donation,” he added.
One theory suggests that a lack of oxygen during a life-threatening event triggers the release of neurotransmitters, causing neurons to fire rapidly and leading to the perception of life memories. Another possible explanation for the life review phenomenon is based on where memories are stored in the brain, particularly in the amygdala, which is responsible for emotional memories and the fight-or-flight response. Activation of the amygdala during a life-threatening experience may lead to the release of vivid memories, causing them to flash before one's eyes, as highly emotional experiences are stored in this area.
People who have had near-death experiences report moments of intense reliving of their life, describing it as their life passing before their eyes like a film strip. This documentation provides scientific support for the phenomenon known as life review, an experience widely reported by those who have had near-death experiences, in which they see their entire life history playing back rapidly in the form of autobiographical memory, as reported by Asianet Newsable.
Dr. Zemmar expressed the opinion that if we know that at the moment of death a person experiences brain activation and pleasant memories, it may bring comfort to families. “One of the most important takeaways from this research is this: When our loved ones close their eyes and bid farewell to life, their brains may be reliving the most beautiful moments of their lives,” Dr. Zemmar stated.
However, the scientists emphasize that this is just one case, and more research is needed to draw definitive conclusions, noting that the patient's brain had been affected by seizures and other medical conditions. “Scientifically, it's very difficult to interpret the data because the brain had suffered bleeding, seizures, and swelling—and then it's just one case. So we can't make very big assumptions and claims based on this case,” Dr. Zemmar emphasized.
The findings suggest that the brain may be biologically programmed to manage the transition to death, orchestrating a series of physiological and neurological events instead of simply shutting down immediately. According to Excelsior, the researchers propose that the brain remains active and coordinated during and even after the transition to death.
“We may have just opened the door to a new discussion about the exact moment of death,” Dr. Zemmar concluded.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.