Research: People see summary of their life at death

Of people who were brought back to life when they were about to die, “It’s like my life flashed before my eyes.” You’ve probably heard the expression. A study conducted in 2017 under the heading of life review experiences hosted such experiences of people. In a study published in 2022, researchers found convincing evidence that our lives can flash before our eyes when we die.

The human brain produces low electrical currents. These electrical currents can be recorded with electroencephalography (EEG). An 87-year-old epilepsy patient died of a heart attack. The electrical currents in the patient’s brain were recorded with EEG for the follow-up of epilepsy. Thanks to the EEG, the researchers studied the patient’s brain waves before and after death. This event allowed scientists to record the brain activity of a deceased person for the first time.

Here’s what happens in the brain at death

Neuroscientists studied the man’s 900 seconds of brain activity at death. Thus, they observed an increase in gamma, delta, theta, beta and alpha waves in the brain 30 seconds before and after the patient’s death. The amplification of gamma waves usually occurs when we dream, recall memories, or meditate. Because of the change in these brain waves, the researchers concluded that people may have died remembering important memories just before they died.