Discover how consciousness persists beyond death according to recent studies, revolutionizing our perception of the ultimate transition.
Does consciousness persist after death?
Sam Parnia, a physician specializing in intensive care at the prestigious NYU Langone School of Medicine in New York City, devotes his research to studying the exact moment of death. His recent work, published in the journal PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences), challenges our traditional understanding of the end of life.
His observations reveal that the cerebral cortex—responsible for cognitive functions, language, and consciousness—may maintain activity for approximately 20 seconds after cardiac arrest. This finding suggests that a person declared clinically dead could potentially retain some form of perception and consciousness during this brief period.
A gradual rather than instantaneous process
Contrary to the common image of an abrupt shutdown, brain death is more like a light gradually going out. Neuronal activity decreases in stages, like a candle flickering before finally going out.
