LOUISVILLE, Ky. — For centuries scientists have been puzzled by what happens when we die.
A new study by UofL researcher Dr. Ajmal Zemmar and colleagues from across the globe suggests that our brains may remain active and coordinated during, and even after, the transition to death.
While recording the brain waves of an elderly patient in Vancouver, Canada who had epilepsy, researchers said the patient had a heart attack and passed away.
This unexpected event gave scientists the chance to do something never done before: record the activity of a dying human brain.
"Just before and after the heart stopped working," Zemmar said. "We saw changes in a specific band of neural oscillations, so-called gamma oscillations."
He said there were also changes in delta, theta, alpha and beta oscillations.
These oscillations, known as brain waves, are patterns of rhythmic brain activity normally present in human brains.
Zemmar said these different brain waves are involved with high-cognitive functions such as concentrating, dreaming, meditation, memory retrieval, information processing and conscious perception.
"Just like those associated with memory flashbacks," he said. "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."
Zemmar said these findings pose interesting questions and challenge our understanding of when exactly life ends.
He said at the scientific level, it's difficult to interpret the data because the patient's brain had suffered bleeding, seizures and swelling before death.
But Zemmar said in a way, the findings are somewhat calming.
"When you have patients that pass away and you talk to their families; you have to be the bearer of bad news," he said. "I think if we know that there is something happening in their brain, that they are remembering nice moments, we can tell these families and it builds a feeling of warmth."
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