Enhanced Interplay of Neuronal Coherence and Coupling in the Dying Human Brain
Authors: Mohammed Sadr
Farzad Moien-Afshari
Joseph S Neimat
Ajmal Zemmar
Raul Vicente
Andres M Lozano
Tarun Khajuria
Charles S Haw
Michael Rizzuto
Rodolfo R Llinas
Can Sarica
Mostafa Fatehi
Kazuaki Yamamoto
Journal: Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience (2022)
Discipline: NEUROSCIENCE & BEHAVIOR
Keywords: coherence; coupling; end-of-life; life recall; near-death.

Abstract:  The neurophysiological footprint of brain activity after cardiac arrest and during near-death experience (NDE) is not well understood. Although a hypoactive state of brain activity has been assumed, experimental animal studies have shown increased activity after cardiac arrest, particularly in the gamma-band, resulting from hypercapnia prior to and cessation of cerebral blood flow after cardiac arrest. No study has yet investigated this matter in humans. Here, we present continuous electroencephalography (EEG) recording from a dying human brain, obtained from an 87-year-old patient undergoing cardiac arrest after traumatic subdural hematoma. An increase of absolute power in gamma activity in the narrow and broad bands and a decrease in theta power is seen after suppression of bilateral hemispheric responses. After cardiac arrest, delta, beta, alpha and gamma power were decreased but a higher percentage of relative gamma power was observed when compared to the interictal interval. Cross-frequency coupling revealed modulation of left-hemispheric gamma activity by alpha and theta rhythms across all windows, even after cessation of cerebral blood flow. The strongest coupling is observed for narrow- and broad-band gamma activity by the alpha waves during left-sided suppression and after cardiac arrest. Albeit the influence of neuronal injury and swelling, our data provide the first evidence from the dying human brain in a non-experimental, real-life acute care clinical setting and advocate that the human brain may possess the capability to generate coordinated activity during the near-death period. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 This article was reviewed on the error bar podcast episode 25: https: theerrorbar.com ?e=25 story 108: https: theerrorbar.com ?s=108. The review was done in the light of newspaper headlines about the article. The slightly-edited transcript is copied here: headline: LIFE FLASHES BEFORE EYES tweet: a report of an 87 year old man who died while his electrical brain activity was being recorded raises the possibility that our life really does flash before our eyes. this report provides no evidence either way that it does. description: the Guardian Daily Mail report the unique case of an 87 year old man who had suffered brain damage, received brain surgery, then deteriorated died several days later. the medical team were recording electrical signals from his scalp to monitor his seizures when he had a heart attack. treatment was withdrawn he died. recording brain activity during death has not been reported before, which is what makes this case unique. the scientists analysed the available data in a number of ways concluded that, just before death, there is a coordinated, coherent activation of the brain that is similar to what happens during memory recall, or in rats as they die. while the Daily Mail concluded that our lives really DO flash before our eyes as death approaches, the Guardian took a fairer, more skeptical view. evaluation: does our life flash before our eyes? maybe. the Mail s story perhaps the scientists spin, claims that the coordinated brain activity happening around the time of the heart attack may provide evidence of his life flashing before his eyes. in the scientists exact words:  Given that cross-coupling between alpha and gamma activity is involved in cognitive processes and memory recall in healthy subjects, it is intriguing to speculate that such activity could support a last u201crecall of lifeu201d that may take place in the near-death state. p9 yet in the discussion section, the authors (were probably forced to) note that the patient had suffered brain damage seizures, that he was on strong brain-altering medication, that he was unconscious unresponsive at the time. perhaps the patient s life flashed before his eyes. or perhaps he passed peacefully in his sleep. we will never know. ,