What Happens in Your Brain as You Die

𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗨𝗻𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗗𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁

During a routine EEG scan, an 87-year-old man unexpectedly suffered a fatal heart attack—giving researchers a rare look at the brain’s final moments.

In the 30 seconds before and after his heart stopped, brainwave activity surged in patterns similar to those seen during dreaming, deep meditation, and memory recall. This has led scientists to wonder: Could the brain replay key moments of a person’s life at the time of death?

One of the most notable findings was an increase in gamma waves—high-frequency brain activity associated with consciousness and memory retrieval. This aligns with the widely reported sensation of “life flashing before your eyes” in near-death experiences.

This discovery sheds light on what might happen neurologically at the end of life. ~Sheila Burke, Death Doula CLE

based on the article 𝐸𝑛ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑒𝑢𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝐶𝑜ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶𝑜𝑢𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐷𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐻𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝐵𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛, 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑝𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝐴𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑁𝑒𝑢𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒. 2022

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀?

The Science Behind It

1. Gamma Wave Activity – The patient was an 87-year-old man undergoing an EEG for epilepsy when he suffered a fatal heart attack. Researchers recorded a surge in gamma waves—high-frequency brain waves associated with memory, consciousness, and cognitive functions—both just before and after the heart stopped.
2. Life Review Hypothesis – The observed brain activity resembled patterns seen during dreaming, meditation, and memory recall. This has led scientists to hypothesize that near-death experiences (NDEs) or the phenomenon of “life flashing before your eyes” may have a neurological basis.
3. Consciousness and Death – The study suggests that the brain remains active and coordinated even in the moments surrounding death. The idea that the brain may replay significant memories in its final moments aligns with reports from people who have had near-death experiences.