Overview
- Presenting at the AAAS meeting in Phoenix, Anna Fowler synthesized dozens of studies on near-death reports, cardiac arrest cases and neuroelectrical recordings.
- Across cardiac arrest research, up to 20% of survivors reported conscious experiences during periods described as absent cortical activity, with some accounts deemed verifiable.
- Human and animal recordings have documented brief surges of brain activity beyond baseline waking levels, and a 2019 study reported electrical signaling minutes to hours after death under preserved conditions.
- A 2023 study led by Dr Sam Parnia in Resuscitation detected brain-wave patterns linked to awareness during CPR for as long as about 60 minutes after the heart stopped.
- Fowler said the evidence supports reconsidering how long to continue resuscitation and when to retrieve organs after circulatory death, warning donors could theoretically retain some awareness and calling for policy review and further research.