Scientists may have discovered what happens when we die

Humans around the world show similar brain activity and report similar experiences when dying or close to death, including seeing their life flash before their eyes, according to a first-of-its-kind study from the NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

As part of the research, a team led by Dr. Sam Parnia monitored the brain waves of 567 people who underwent cardiac arrest resuscitation (aka CPR) across two dozen hospitals in the US, UK, and Bulgaria.

Here’s what they found:

• The brain activity of patients who died flatlined shortly after cardiac arrest, as expected.
• But over the hour-long period following their death, researchers also identified sudden spikes of electrical activity in several areas of the brain associated with higher mental functions, like talking or concentrating deeply.

🤔 So, what were they experiencing?... Scientists interviewed the ~10% of patients in the study who ended up surviving CPR, then categorized their testimonies alongside those from 126 additional survivors of cardiac arrest.

According to Dr. Parnia: “We were able to show very clearly that the recorded experience of death – a sense of separation, a review of your life, going to a place that feels like home, and then a recognition that you need to come back – were very consistent across people from all over the world.”

• People also consistently report seeing a God-like being that Parnia says can be interpreted in different ways: “If you happen to be a Christian, you say, ‘I saw Jesus’ and if you happen to be an atheist, you say ‘I saw this incredible being of love and compassion.’ All of this has been reported now for more than 60 years.”

🧠 One possible explanation: Dr. Pania says the human brain typically has braking systems which prevent us from accessing all of its regions. But those limits are removed as the brain shuts down following cardiac arrest, briefly allowing access to all thoughts, emotions, feelings, and memories a person has experienced in their life.