When You Die, Does Your Life Actually Flash Before Your Eyes?
It is a common trope in storytelling that when someone dies, or has a near death experience, they see their life flash before their eyes. It seems, however, that this trope has a basis in reality.
I know it can be a bit morbid to think about, but it is fascinating that scientists have been able to detect surges in brain activity 30 seconds before and 30 seconds after someone dies. Could our life’s memories really be flashing “before our eyes” in those final moments?
The article linked above goes on to say that one does not have to be dying for this phenomenon to occur; a near-death experience can trigger the same response. Then again, it is not true for every person. In fact, researchers seem to have observed this activity in about 50% of patients. While the sample size was limited, the results offer a compelling glimpse into how the human brain functions at the very end.
It still makes me wonder what makes the difference. Why do some people seem to have that surge, while others don’t?