Dying-Brain Gamma Burst Sparks Debate on Near-Death Imagery

A 2013 University of Michigan rat study found a brief, highly synchronized gamma-band surge in the 30 seconds after cardiac arrest, suggesting the dying brain remains highly coordinated and potentially linked to the vivid imagery reported in near-death experiences; later human data (2022 case and 2023 follow-ups) showed gamma activity in some dying patients, fueling debate about whether such brain activity underpins conscious experience or reflects other processes, while acknowledging the findings don’t settle the broader question of consciousness.