Patients Recall Death Experiences After Cardiac Arrest

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Up to an hour after their hearts had stopped, some patients revived by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) had clear memories afterward of experiencing death and had brain patterns while unconscious linked to thought and memory, report investigators.

Posted by LampLighter at 08:30 PM | 39 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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The study authors hypothesize that the "flatlined," dying brain removes natural inhibitory (braking) systems. These processes, known collectively as disinhibition, may open access to "new dimensions of reality," they say, including lucid recall of all stored memories from early childhood to death, evaluated from the perspective of morality. While no one knows the evolutionary purpose of this phenomenon, it "opens the door to a systematic exploration of what happens when a person dies."

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More from the article...

... In a study led by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, in cooperation with 25 mostly US and British hospitals, some survivors of cardiac arrest described lucid death experiences that occurred while they were seemingly unconscious.

Despite immediate treatment, fewer than 10% of the 567 patients studied, who received CPR in the hospital, recovered sufficiently to be discharged.

Four in 10 of patients who survived, however, recalled some degree of consciousness during CPR not captured by standard measures. ...

#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2023-09-20 01:26 AM | Reply

"some survivors of cardiac arrest described lucid death experiences that occurred while they were seemingly unconscious."

DMT is a hell of a drug!

#2 | Posted by snoofy at 2023-09-20 05:45 PM | Reply

Quantifiable consciousness exists Beyond physical death?

#3 | Posted by Tor at 2023-09-20 06:20 PM | Reply

"Survivors have long reported having heightened experiences and powerful, lucid experiences, say the study authors.

These have included a perception of separation from the body, observing events without pain or distress, and a meaningful evaluation of their actions and relationships.

This new work found these experiences of death to be different from hallucinations, delusions, illusions, dreams, or CPR-induced consciousness."

The short article is a really good read, and their werk establishes new time lines for ongoing brain activity, long after the 10 minutes limit, and similarities in patient experiences.

As I've mentioned, the former Mrs had an explicit NDE after a brain hemorrhage almost (should have according to the Doc) killed her.

#4 | Posted by Corky at 2023-09-20 06:45 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

...but let me reiterate the point everyone seems to be overlooking...
'fewer than 10% of the 567 patients studied, who received CPR in the hospital,
recovered sufficiently to be discharged'.

So one can have these experiences, but the chance that you do, or come back to
recollect them, is less than 10%. In other words, 90 some percent of the time
you just die...

The findings, while interesting, hardly prove anything. Not afterlife, not
this religion, or that religion's beliefs. Indeed the only thing they seem to
indicate, is that in some rare instances, the brain keeps working at some level,
after the heart has ceased to function.

#5 | Posted by earthmuse at 2023-09-21 06:32 AM | Reply

A chicken will run around after its heads is cut off. God is great!

#6 | Posted by memyselfini at 2023-09-21 08:56 AM | Reply

The study isn't about the percentage of recovery, it's about what those who recover have in common.

And the findings break new ground in a couple of areas.

People shouldn't be so threatened by science, lol.

#7 | Posted by Corky at 2023-09-21 09:06 AM | Reply

establishes new time lines for ongoing brain activity, long after the 10 minutes limit, and similarities in patient experiences.

Only problem with that is that these patients were being given CPR. Unless the claim is that CPR doesn't work, the brain wasn't deprived of blood flow/oxygen beyond ten minutes.

I wonder if they were actually measuring brain function during hypoxia.

#8 | Posted by jpw at 2023-09-21 09:41 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

It seems these NYU scientists know what they are doing.

You could contact and correct them if you think they don't.

#9 | Posted by Corky at 2023-09-21 09:56 AM | Reply

Quantifiable consciousness exists Beyond physical death?
#3 | POSTED BY TOR

Good luck quantifying consciousness in the living, let alone the dead.

#10 | Posted by snoofy at 2023-09-21 10:02 AM | Reply

It seems these NYU scientists know what they are doing.
You could contact and correct them if you think they don't.
#9 | POSTED BY CORKY

Nice argument.

You don't actually think about what you read, do you?

Nahhhhh you need to justify belief in sky daddy.

#11 | Posted by jpw at 2023-09-21 11:28 AM | Reply

#5 | Posted by earthmuse

That fits of what I know about CPR. Your chances are not good if you need it and your best chance is if there is a defibrillator handy and it is used quickly. I have seen people resuscitated that made it to the hospital and never made it out. Even if you are in the hospital and they get you going quickly, you don't have great overall chance - you are typically in very bad shape.

I mention this only because we need to think about our loved ones and their suffering. This summer our friend's father was resuscitated 3 or 4 times over a month before he finally succumbed. He was in and out of a coma most of that time. He was in bad shape period and honestly should have had a DNR but they were so desperate for him to make it...

#12 | Posted by GalaxiePete at 2023-09-21 11:33 AM | Reply

In a study led by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, in cooperation with 25 mostly US and British hospitals, some survivors of cardiac arrest described lucid death experiences that occurred while they were seemingly unconscious.

Despite immediate treatment, fewer than 10% of the 567 patients studied, who received CPR in the hospital, recovered sufficiently to be discharged.

Four in 10 of patients who survived, however, recalled some degree of consciousness during CPR not captured by standard measures.

The study also found that in a subset of these patients, who received brain monitoring, nearly 40% had brain activity that returned to normal, or nearly normal, from a "flatline" state, at points even an hour into CPR.

As captured by EEG, a technology that records brain activity with electrodes, the patients saw spikes in the gamma, delta, theta, alpha, and beta waves associated with higher mental function."

More at the link.

Sounds like as legit study, but perhaps our hysterical lab rat knows better.

#13 | Posted by Corky at 2023-09-21 11:46 AM | Reply

Sounds like?

You can't even assess the study well enough to avoid a weasel word, but you're here trumpeting its findings as confidently as a MAGA moron telling you there's tracking chips in the COVID vaccine put there by Bill Gates.

#14 | Posted by jpw at 2023-09-21 11:50 AM | Reply

From the actual study:

Found here www.resuscitationjournal.com(23)00216-2/fulltext

Overall, 365/567(64%) had combined tablet/headphones. However,
low survival (sample size) limited testing. Nonetheless, among 28
survivors, nobody described explicit recall of seeing the independent
image on the tablet, nor hearing the auditory stimuli. Regarding implicit learning, nobody identified the displayed visual image (from 10
candidate-images) and 1/28(3.5%) chose the correct three fruits (apple, pear, banana).

Well, isn't that interesting. Nobody got the controls right.

Oh, and all that juicy RED data? 6 people.

I wonder what the religious leaning of those six people are relative to the 22 who didn't experience "beings of light" full of "heat and love"...

#15 | Posted by jpw at 2023-09-21 12:08 PM | Reply

Look, this stuff is fun to think about. Like UFOs and Nessy, there's a basic need in the human brain for there to be something mysterious beyond our world, whether it be spiritual or physical.

#16 | Posted by jpw at 2023-09-21 12:09 PM | Reply

"The study isn't about the percentage of recovery, it's about what those who recover have in common."

They all have brains! And bodies with identical systems and they were all on CPR which was still feeding oxygen to the brain and vital organs.

What we really need to do (if it hasn't already been done) is redefine when someone is actually dead. Obviously flat lining isn't it.

What I get from this study is that brain activity is not the actual indicator of death. And of course they would see similar things when full functionality was being restored. But only a small percentage could actually remember any of it.

You know they used to say that if one stopped breathing then they were dead and we would bury them. And then a certain percentage would wake up IN the coffin. Ouch!

So then they had to put little bells in in there so they could signal for help if they woke up. It was called a safety coffin.

I think the question is where did their consciousness go when they flatlined. That would be interesting to know. Also. What the hell is consciousness?

#17 | Posted by donnerboy at 2023-09-21 12:40 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Like UFOs and Nessy, there's a basic need in the human brain for there to be something mysterious beyond our world, whether it be spiritual or physical.
#16 | POSTED BY JPW

It's a shame people still put UFOs in the same boat as Nessy or Bigfoot.

Does the pentagon spend millions of dollars on investigations of Nessy or Bigfoot? Or ghosts, for that matter?

#18 | Posted by rstybeach11 at 2023-09-21 01:09 PM | Reply

It's a shame people still put UFOs in the same boat as Nessy or Bigfoot.

I guess I differentiate between UFOs and UAPs.

UFOs are the little green men, beam of light abductions stuff that leads to costume parties and festivals at Roswell.

UAPs are, at this point, definitely real but beyond the fact that they're an unknown arial phenomena, nothing else is known.

#19 | Posted by jpw at 2023-09-21 01:17 PM | Reply

It's a shame that some people have never seen a number in actuality, only as a representation.

But then some people who claim to be scientific minded are just as sure as any holy roller that they KNOW what is and is not possible in our universe/dimension/reality... and what is definitely not, and therefore subject to ridicule.

Fortunately, the top minds are usually humble enough to not be such ------, and understand with each new discovery how little they actually know.

#20 | Posted by Corky at 2023-09-21 03:23 PM | Reply

Fortunately, the top minds are usually humble enough to not be such ------, and understand with each new discovery how little they actually know.

#20 | POSTED BY CORKY

LOL just LOL

At that entire post.

The only one acting like they know for sure is you, corky. And you desperately cling to anything with a hint of science in it to validate your firm conclusions.

some people who claim to be scientific minded

My analysis is how one approaches scientific inquiry and study.

It seems these NYU scientists know what they are doing.

Sounds like as legit study, but perhaps our hysterical lab rat knows better.

is NOT how one goes about scientific inquiry and study.

#21 | Posted by jpw at 2023-09-21 03:32 PM | Reply

#11

Is ridicule, apparently based on your superior knowledge of the universe.

Also ad hominem and all round ------------.

But it's there for everyone see, so lying about it is a bit foolish

I noted the reason for my interest in the last part of #4.

But I take it you prolly also have direct, personal experience with NDE.

#22 | Posted by Corky at 2023-09-21 03:59 PM | Reply

Yawn.

You played an argument from authority when I pointed out a very obvious issue with the interpretation.

Now you're acting all "whoooo...meeee?"

Doesn't matter what I've experienced or not. Not if you want this to be a scientific discussion, at least.

As for general discussion, see #16.

#23 | Posted by jpw at 2023-09-21 04:04 PM | Reply

So, per the article, even though the heart had stopped, the brain had not yet shut down. In fact the brains electrical pulses were behaving abnormally during those moments as body had not yet shut down. - Sounds to me that these people are not experiencing the "afterlife", even for one moment. They are experiencing the gradual shutting down of the body and the brain with all atypical phenomena which occur at such a moment.

#24 | Posted by moder8 at 2023-09-21 04:10 PM | Reply

And, for what it's worth, "near death" means still alive. People who have "near death" experiences have not experienced death.

#25 | Posted by moder8 at 2023-09-21 04:12 PM | Reply

"So, per the article, even though the heart had stopped, the brain had not yet shut down"

This is when the endogenous DMT gets released.
When your lungs are no longer putting oxygen into the bloodstream. Or something like that I'm not a doctor.

N, N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), an Endogenous Hallucinogen: Past, Present, and Future Research to Determine Its Role and Function
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

New Clues Found in Understanding Near-Death Experiences
Research finds parallels to certain psychoactive drugs
www.scientificamerican.com

#26 | Posted by snoofy at 2023-09-21 04:53 PM | Reply

JPwhipped plays Mother Scientist Superior, ridicules, obfuscates, pretends to have destroyed the entire study by better science minds than his, then yawns.

Hard werk, one supposes.

#27 | Posted by Corky at 2023-09-21 05:04 PM | Reply

Corky you ever take DMT or LSD? You have to have done LSD, right?

#28 | Posted by snoofy at 2023-09-21 05:05 PM | Reply

Sounds to me that these people are not experiencing the "afterlife", even for one moment. They are experiencing the gradual shutting down of the body and the brain with all atypical phenomena which occur at such a moment.

#24 | POSTED BY MODER8

Exactly. It's not "afterlife". They still had a body and a brain for their consciousness to reside in.

For Corky.

I know my consciousness exists (even though I can't really define it or see it and I can't even tell you where or even what it is but it is definitely in my brain somewhere. Definitely in my body somewhere at least. Or maybe my brain is just an antenna that tunes into my cosmic consciousness. (Still to be determined.)

Regardless. A brain appears to be necessary for a consciousness.

But there has never been an instance of a consciousness existing without a body. Without its own body and brain. (And as of yet it's never been shown to be interchangeable between bodies.) When the body and brain dies your consciousness and your Life ends. Because there is no place for it to reside.

But let's say your consciousness does still exist somewhere in some dimension after your body dies even that would not be "life after death". It would just be a disembodied consciousness existing after it lost its body.

Still waiting for the scientific evidence that this has EVER happened.

#29 | Posted by donnerboy at 2023-09-21 05:14 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

But but but but numbers

#30 | Posted by truthhurts at 2023-09-21 05:17 PM | Reply

Quantifiable consciousness exists Beyond physical death?

Yes, God told me so.

#31 | Posted by boaz at 2023-09-21 05:28 PM | Reply

Poor Corky.

Wants so desperately to be smart, learned and worldly but fails so hard in trying.

Ends up reduced to a blubbering, whiny pile of whining when his ideas aren't treated as if they're as profound as he thinks they are.

You'd be a terrible scientist.

#32 | Posted by jpw at 2023-09-21 06:05 PM | Reply

Quantifiable consciousness exists Beyond physical death?

Yes, God told me so.

#31 | POSTED BY BOAZ AT

I'd you are hearing god you should run not walk to a psychiatrist

#33 | Posted by truthhurts at 2023-09-21 06:06 PM | Reply

So is spooky action at a distance a scientific concept?

#34 | Posted by Tor at 2023-09-21 06:13 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

It is but it's not clear how it would apply here.

#35 | Posted by snoofy at 2023-09-21 06:15 PM | Reply

#31 no, he or she or it didnt.

Your delusions told you that at the direction of a person leveraging them for their own profit and benefit.

#36 | Posted by jpw at 2023-09-21 06:20 PM | Reply

So is spooky action at a distance a scientific concept?

#34 | POSTED BY TOR

Spooky action does not actually involve any ------.

#37 | Posted by donnerboy at 2023-09-22 02:56 PM | Reply

I may have experienced spooky action at a distance when somebody died.

#38 | Posted by Tor at 2023-09-22 06:29 PM | Reply

This morning I thought I saw a former classmate who I hadn't seen for 10 years at the grocery store but when I went around the aisle the person I thought I had seen had vanished.

This afternoon and absolute random I ran into the very classmate I thought I'd seen in the morning.

#39 | Posted by Tor at 2023-09-22 11:36 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1