Intriguing new research has emerged in the enigmatic realms of consciousness during the dying process. Led by Dr. Jimo Borjigin, the study offers a glimpse into the possibility of conscious-like activity as life slips away, uncovering brain wave patterns in comatose patients who ultimately succumbed to cardiac arrest (Xu et al., 2023).
At the heart of this investigation lies the persistent question surrounding near-death experiences—accounts often described as encounters with white light, visits from departed loved ones, and ethereal voices beckoning from beyond. These shared elements across numerous testimonies have fueled speculation about the experience: Could these narratives be fragments of a consciousness that defies the cessation of bodily functions, even after the heart ceases to beat?
Borjigin and her team's study builds upon prior animal research conducted in collaboration with Dr. George Mashour, founding director of the Michigan Center for Consciousness Science (Xu et al., 2023). By monitoring brain activity in comatose patients facing cardiac arrest, Borjigin sought to identify potential neural correlates of consciousness during the dying process. Sam Parnia, a pulmonologist at New York University Langone Medical Center who reviewed this study, quotes that this study “suggests we are identifying a marker of lucid consciousness” which may resurface popular debate about how a person’s brain could replay conscious memories even after the heart has stopped (Brenner, 2024).
This observation aligns closely with recent advancements in understanding consciousness dynamics led by Dr. Li-Chun Lin, whose study on Parkinson’s disease (PD) provided new insights into cortical neurophysiology (Lin et al., 2023). Parkinson’s disease, characterized by motor and cognitive impairments, involves forebrain aggregation of alpha-synuclein protein and decreased midbrain dopamine levels, leading to basal ganglia dysfunction. Despite these well-understood features, the molecular basis for PD-related cortical changes remains unclear, primarily due to the challenges associated with postmortem tissue analysis.
Past research has predominantly focused on protein-level changes in dopamine or synuclein, overlooking potential contributions from alterations in cortical gene expression. Lin’s study, however, adopts a novel approach by investigating cortical changes in living PD patients undergoing deep-brain stimulation (DBS) implantation surgery. By examining tissue from the prefrontal cortex, the study identified 40 differentially expressed genes between PD and essential tremor (ET) patients, one of which notably correlated with intraoperative neural rhythms and cognitive task performance.
The findings from this study underscore the dynamic nature of cortical gene expression in PD and its potential implications for cognitive function and dysfunction. Comparing intraoperative data with postmortem tissue samples revealed significant differences in gene expression profiles, shedding light on pathway changes in PD that were not previously observed. Notably, several genes identified intraoperatively overlapped with those found in postmortem PD-specific genes, including CALB2 and FOXP2, suggesting a consistent molecular signature across different stages of the disease. With this in mind, Borjigin’s study unfolded with a small cohort of patients who were removed from life support. Their brain activity was continuously monitored using electroencephalography (EEG).
Two of the patients exhibited an upsurge in heart rate, accompanied by a surge of gamma wave activity in their brains—the fastest known brain activity associated with consciousness (Xu et al., 2023). What makes this finding even more intriguing is that the observed brain activity occurred in the hot zone of neural correlates of consciousness: the intersection of the temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes at the back of the brain. This region has long been associated with dreaming, visual hallucinations in epilepsy, and altered states of consciousness in previous studies.
It is important to note that the two patients who demonstrated this surge in gamma wave activity had previous reports of seizures but did not experience any seizures within the hour preceding their deaths. On the other hand, the remaining two patients did not exhibit an increase in heart rate or heightened brain activity upon removal from life support. Such observations emphasize the complex interplay between brain activity and conscious states during the dying process.
To unravel the full depth of this mystery, larger-scale, multi-center studies are essential. Future investigations could involve monitoring EEG activity in intensive care unit (ICU) patients who survive cardiac arrest, offering valuable data that could shed further light on the significance of gamma wave bursts and their connection to consciousness even near death.
The groundbreaking research conducted by Borjigin and her team pushes the boundaries of our understanding of consciousness and challenges the conventional wisdom surrounding the dying process. By shining a light on the profound experiences recounted by individuals who have returned from the brink of death, this study ignites our curiosity and inspires us to delve deeper into the mysteries of human consciousness.
About the Author
Behruz Mahmudov is a sophomore at Harvard College, studying Chemical and Physical Biology.
References:
At the heart of this investigation lies the persistent question surrounding near-death experiences—accounts often described as encounters with white light, visits from departed loved ones, and ethereal voices beckoning from beyond. These shared elements across numerous testimonies have fueled speculation about the experience: Could these narratives be fragments of a consciousness that defies the cessation of bodily functions, even after the heart ceases to beat?
Borjigin and her team's study builds upon prior animal research conducted in collaboration with Dr. George Mashour, founding director of the Michigan Center for Consciousness Science (Xu et al., 2023). By monitoring brain activity in comatose patients facing cardiac arrest, Borjigin sought to identify potential neural correlates of consciousness during the dying process. Sam Parnia, a pulmonologist at New York University Langone Medical Center who reviewed this study, quotes that this study “suggests we are identifying a marker of lucid consciousness” which may resurface popular debate about how a person’s brain could replay conscious memories even after the heart has stopped (Brenner, 2024).
This observation aligns closely with recent advancements in understanding consciousness dynamics led by Dr. Li-Chun Lin, whose study on Parkinson’s disease (PD) provided new insights into cortical neurophysiology (Lin et al., 2023). Parkinson’s disease, characterized by motor and cognitive impairments, involves forebrain aggregation of alpha-synuclein protein and decreased midbrain dopamine levels, leading to basal ganglia dysfunction. Despite these well-understood features, the molecular basis for PD-related cortical changes remains unclear, primarily due to the challenges associated with postmortem tissue analysis.
Past research has predominantly focused on protein-level changes in dopamine or synuclein, overlooking potential contributions from alterations in cortical gene expression. Lin’s study, however, adopts a novel approach by investigating cortical changes in living PD patients undergoing deep-brain stimulation (DBS) implantation surgery. By examining tissue from the prefrontal cortex, the study identified 40 differentially expressed genes between PD and essential tremor (ET) patients, one of which notably correlated with intraoperative neural rhythms and cognitive task performance.
The findings from this study underscore the dynamic nature of cortical gene expression in PD and its potential implications for cognitive function and dysfunction. Comparing intraoperative data with postmortem tissue samples revealed significant differences in gene expression profiles, shedding light on pathway changes in PD that were not previously observed. Notably, several genes identified intraoperatively overlapped with those found in postmortem PD-specific genes, including CALB2 and FOXP2, suggesting a consistent molecular signature across different stages of the disease. With this in mind, Borjigin’s study unfolded with a small cohort of patients who were removed from life support. Their brain activity was continuously monitored using electroencephalography (EEG).
Two of the patients exhibited an upsurge in heart rate, accompanied by a surge of gamma wave activity in their brains—the fastest known brain activity associated with consciousness (Xu et al., 2023). What makes this finding even more intriguing is that the observed brain activity occurred in the hot zone of neural correlates of consciousness: the intersection of the temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes at the back of the brain. This region has long been associated with dreaming, visual hallucinations in epilepsy, and altered states of consciousness in previous studies.
It is important to note that the two patients who demonstrated this surge in gamma wave activity had previous reports of seizures but did not experience any seizures within the hour preceding their deaths. On the other hand, the remaining two patients did not exhibit an increase in heart rate or heightened brain activity upon removal from life support. Such observations emphasize the complex interplay between brain activity and conscious states during the dying process.
To unravel the full depth of this mystery, larger-scale, multi-center studies are essential. Future investigations could involve monitoring EEG activity in intensive care unit (ICU) patients who survive cardiac arrest, offering valuable data that could shed further light on the significance of gamma wave bursts and their connection to consciousness even near death.
The groundbreaking research conducted by Borjigin and her team pushes the boundaries of our understanding of consciousness and challenges the conventional wisdom surrounding the dying process. By shining a light on the profound experiences recounted by individuals who have returned from the brink of death, this study ignites our curiosity and inspires us to delve deeper into the mysteries of human consciousness.
About the Author
Behruz Mahmudov is a sophomore at Harvard College, studying Chemical and Physical Biology.
References:
- Brenner, J. (2024, March 20). https://www.tiktok.com/@chats.with.jen/video/7347739564737498414?_r=1&_t=8lBF9Xzz1Ze.
- Lin, L.-C., Cole, R. C., Greenlee, J. D. W., & Narayanan, N. S. (2023, March 23). A pilot study of ex vivo human prefrontal RNA transcriptomics in parkinson’s disease - cellular and molecular neurobiology. SpringerLink. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10571-023-01334-8?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=trendmd&utm_content=paid&utm_term=null&utm_campaign=MLSR_SPROA_AWA1_GL_PMLS_03BP3_TrendMD.
- McNicoll, A. (2023, May 2). What happens in our brains when we die? The Week. https://theweek.com/psychology/960688/what-happens-in-our-brains-when-we-die.
- Xu, G., Mihaylova, T., Li, D., Tian, F., Farrehi, P.M., Parent, J.M., Mashour, G.A., Wang, M.M., Borjigin*, J. (2023, May 1). Surge of neurophysiological coupling and connectivity of gamma oscillations in the dying human brain. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 120(19), e2216268120. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2216268120.
