The TelegraphThe Telegraph
Brain scan - comotion_design
Brain scan - comotion_design

The first recording of a dying brain indicates that our life may flash before our eyes when we are near death.

A patient died while having their brain activity monitored. There was an increase in activity linked to memory recall and dreaming.

People who have suffered near-death experiences claim to have seen their life flash before their eyes, and experts believe this backs up reports.

This is the first empirical data from an actual death to support the theory.

The man who died was an elderly man from Estonia who had been admitted to the hospital after a fall.

An operation was successful after he was sent for scans that showed a brain bleed. The patient was stable for two days in intensive care.

He began to suffer from epileptic seizures, and so the clinicians organised an EEG to help track and treat the brain activity caused by the trauma.

Patient died of heart attack

The first and only time the activity of a dying human brain has been recorded was when the patient suffered a cardiac arrest and died.

The doctors and their colleagues were able to study what happens in the brain as a person passes over the threshold from life to death.

The brain activity at the time of death was very similar to what happens when a person is meditating, dreaming, or reliving past memories.

The scans and details of the patient were passed on to Dr Zemmar, who analysed the case study.

He told Frontiers Science News that they measured 900 seconds of brain activity around the time of death and set a specific focus to investigate what happened in the 30 seconds before and after the heart stopped beating.

He said there was a change in a brain wave called the gamma oscillations when the last contraction was on either side of the heart.

The percentage of brain waves that were left was larger than normal. Some studies have shown that the waves are linked to concentrating, dreaming, memory retrieval, and conscious perception.

The brain may be playing a last recall of important life events just before we die, similar to the ones reported in near-death experiences, according to Dr Zemmar.

These findings challenge our understanding of when life ends and generate important questions, such as those related to the timing of organ donation.

He said that the results gave neuroscientists hope that they could better understand the phenomenon of life recall, which is often reported by those who have had near-death experiences.

Practical issues with further research

The researchers from the US, China, Australia, and Estonia wrote in their study that the data suggests that the human brain may have the ability to generate coordinated activity during the near-death period.

The practical issues with that, as it does involve the death of the participants, are acknowledged by the researchers.

It may be difficult to assess this in a physiological environment since gathering such data from healthy subjects is impossible.

We do not anticipate death in healthy subjects and therefore could not get recordings in the near-death phase.

Our goal is to create a safe and engaging place for users to connect over interests and passions. In order to improve our community experience, we are temporarily suspending article commenting
  • The scientists who accidentally recorded a dying brain saw startling results.

  • A first-of-its-kind study captured a man's brain activity. Brain waves linked with memory and dreams continued after his heart stopped.

  • Few know that Amazon has millions of Prime subscribers.

  • Benchmark yields hold steady as silver prices edge lower.

  • Rolls-Royce Chief Executive Warren East will step down by the end of the year after steering the aero-engine maker through the worst of the pandemic. Rolls-Royce burned through more than 6 billion pounds of cash during the H1N1 swine flu. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia was fundamentally bad.

  • The future belongs to those who can imagine it, design it, and that is why the building is covered with Arabic calligraphy.

  • AdYourDIY
    • Why this Ad?
    • Go ad-free*

    Take a look at the finest cars of the golden age.

  • One lawyer said he would like for someone to show him any African-American defendants who have been convicted by a jury of a similar crime.

  • The impact of Russia attacking Ukraine, inflation, and supply chain challenges are some of the topics discussed by the CEO of the company.

  • What will happen to the moon rocket that NASA is bringing to the launch pad? The US space agency is issuing an update on Artemis, its effort to put the next generation of US astronauts on the Moon. The Boeing-built Space Launch System will be ready for a final dress rehearsal next month.

  • AdAmazon.com
    • Why this Ad?
    • Go ad-free*
  • Doctors told him that his heart and kidneys were failing and that he would die within months if he did not get a heart transplant.

  • A man has been arrested in a home invasion case. A judge denied him bail. More people are expected to be arrested.

  • During the wintertime, outdoor exercise can improve physical health, but it can also improve mental health.

  • The best mattress of 2021. It will make you sleep like a log.

  • Being a dad of four and being enjoyed the responsibilities that go along with it. Whether it is taking one of his teenage sons.

  • Even if you replace your kitchen sponge frequently, it will still be a friendly environment.

  • Scientists say that meltwater from the top of the ice sheet is crashing down to the base of the glaciers.

  • AdNoteabley
    • Why this Ad?
    • Go ad-free*

    There are hilarious photos about what happens in Vegas.

  • The Batman star had to be careful while in costume.

  • Heart disease is the most expensive cause of death in the United States. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood, one in four deaths are caused by heart disease.

  • The most popular styles from across the pond.

  • You will be surprised at how creative people can be with their receipts.

  • Researchers attached tiny, backpack-like tracking devices to five Australian magpies and observed a new behavior.

  • With a storm around the corner, there is a debate about whether to leave the windshields up or down.

  • A shift to work from home and low interest rates have led to a multi-year boom in global house prices. The European Central Bank is not in a position to tame property prices because the euro zone has 19 national markets. The euro zone was home to five of the 10 countries that experienced the biggest increase in house prices in 2020.