The study authors also found out how long this condition lasts.
Some of their patients after clinical death were able to tell the scientists that during the "blackout" they heard the doctors and could fragmentarily retell the staff talks.
Fear of imminent death is one of the most unpleasant sensations for many people, especially those who are afraid of dying alone. And as scientists have found out, people have every reason for such fears.
According to a study by scientists at the NYU Langone School of Medicine, the moment of dying - if you can call it that now - is something completely different from what people previously thought.
It turns out that the deceased for some time, even after the official statement of death, are still conscious. Moreover, they understand that they are dead and fully feel the world around them.
This was found out by a group of researchers led by Professor Sam Parnia. Over the years, his team has been monitoring the condition of the dying, as well as collecting testimony from those who have experienced clinical death. After many years of work, the authors gathered together the data, summarized them and published the first results.
The main conclusion of the study: after the official statement of death - that is, after cardiac arrest - the human brain is still functioning and remains active. The mind lives. This means that in most such cases, people can understand that they have passed away.
At the same time, the deceased feels that his body no longer responds to external stimuli. Even if he wants to move his hand, his own body will not obey. A person, as it were, feels imprisoned in his own body. He hears words, sees others, but can no longer give them a sign.
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Some of the patients after clinical death were able to tell the scientists that during the "blackout" they heard the doctors and could fragmentarily retell the staff talks.
As it turned out, death is something completely different from what we thought before.
Scientists explain their findings by the fact that the brain dies more slowly than the heart, therefore a person, his mind, lives for some time even after death.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the terms "cardiac arrest" and "heart attack" are often used interchangeably, but they are not identical. During a heart attack, a blocked artery often prevents blood from entering only one part of the heart, which can lead to the death of that particular area - although the heart generally continues to beat. During cardiac arrest, the electrical signals leading to its work are disrupted, the heart stops beating, death occurs.
In the vast majority of cases, doctors define death based on the fact that the heart is no longer beating, explains Professor Sam Parnia, head of critical medicine and resuscitation at NYU Langone School of Medicine: "This is how most times a person dies."
And from the moment the heart stops, blood stops flowing to the brain - its work slows down.
Slowing down - but not stopping
This slowing down of the chain reaction of cellular processes that ultimately leads to the death of cells throughout the brain can take several hours after the death of the heart.
And the work of the cerebral cortex - the so-called "thinking part" - all this time will continue, albeit slowly, but continue. And man live and feel.
And it means that what is usually called death (cardiac arrest), according to doctors, is just its first phase.
The brain dies more slowly than the heart, therefore, for some time a person lives even after death is declared.
A study by scientists from New York confirms the results of an earlier discovery made by Canadian experts from the University of Western Ontario. Then it was also stated that life after death is far from over: after the cessation of the work of many organs, the brain still continues to work, and for quite a long time.
BTW
Modern medicine, however, previously knew that the brain dies later than the heart (thanks to which, for example, heart transplantation became possible, today this operation is carried out successfully in many countries). However, it was believed that if the vital activity of the brain is not supported by special medications, then the brain will soon die after the heart. And now a study by scientists from New York has shown that this time is much longer.
But a team of doctors from the Jerusalem hospital Haddassah analyzed the stories of people who were close to death, and found that returning to memories of life may be associated with the part of the brain that stores memories. Doctors believe this part of the brain is the last part affected by oxygen deficiency and blood loss. Therefore, she is able to work even when a person loses consciousness and slowly dies.
Doctors note that often the memories of dying people are especially emotional. At the same time, there is no linear progression between the memories, the person cannot answer why these memories came to him, and not others.
Life after death is far from over.
OLEG KOLESOV
