The New Science of Death: 'Something is happening in the brain that makes no sense'

The science of death is undergoing a revolution. Researchers have discovered complex and intense brain activity in the moments following cardiac arrest, challenging our ideas about the end of life. These findings raise many questions about the nature of consciousness and the boundaries between life and death. Let's dive into this fascinating exploration of the mysteries of the dying brain.

Unexpected brain activity at death's door

In 2014, a team of researchers led by Jimo Borjigin, a professor of neurology at the University of Michigan, made a stunning discovery. By studying the case of a 24-year-old woman in a state of brain deathbrain deathnicknamed “Patient One,” they observed intense, organized electrical activity in his brain several minutes after oxygen was stopped.

Contrary to popular belief, the brain does not shut down immediately after cardiac arrest. On the contrary, it experiences a real stormstorm electric:

• appearance of high frequency gamma waves;
• increased synchronization between different brain regions;
• activation of areas associated with consciousness and memory.

This surprising activity persisted for several minutes, even reaching levels 11 to 12 times higher than those observed before the cessation of the ventilationventilation assisted. These observations challenge the idea that the brain immediately stops functioning after clinical death.

Near-death experiences in a new light

For decades, accounts of near-death experiences (NDEs) have fascinated the general public and divided the scientific community. These accounts of people who have brushed with death often evoke sensations of detachment from the body, of a luminous tunnel or of encounters with spiritual beings.

The findings of Borjigin and his team shed new light on these phenomena. The intense brain activity observed in “Patient One” could explain some aspects of NDEs:

Brain activity	Potential subjective experience
Brainwave Synchronization	Feeling of detachment from the body
Activation of memory areas	Scrolling of life
Connections between areas of conscious processing	Intense visions and sensations

These findings suggest that NDEs may be the product of complex neurological activity rather than evidence of consciousness surviving the death of the body. Nevertheless, many questions remain and fuel scientific debate.

Towards a redefinition of the boundaries of death?

The work of Borjigin and other researchers in the field of thanatology (the scientific study of death) opens up exciting new perspectives. They challenge our traditional understanding of the dying process and raise ethical and philosophical questions:

1. At what exact moment can a person be considered truly dead?
2. Is there any form of residual consciousness after cardiac arrest?
3. Can these findings improve resuscitation techniques?

Recent research at Yale University has shown that it is possible to partially reactivate brain cells in pigs several hours after their death. These results, although preliminary, suggest the possibility of pushing the current limits of resuscitation.

On the other hand, these advances also raise complex ethical questions. How far is it reasonable to go in prolonging life? How should brain death be defined at the lightlight of this new knowledge?

A field of research in full swing

The scientific study of death is currently experiencing a real boom. Many research teams around the world are exploring different facets of this complex phenomenon:

• analysis of the neurobiological mechanisms of brain death;
• study of factors influencing near-death experiences;
• development of new resuscitation techniques;
• exploration of the links between death and consciousness.

This promising work could not only revolutionize our understanding of death, but also have major implications for the medical field. It paves the way for new approaches to improve the care of patients at the end of life and potentially save more lives.

The science of death, long considered a taboo subject, is now emerging as a fascinating and hopeful field of research. By pushing back the boundaries of our knowledge, it invites us to rethink our relationship with life and death.