Near-Death Experiences Are Changing Ideas About Consciousness
Death is not as final as we once thought. Dr. Sam Parnia’s research shows it’s a gradual process, with brain cells taking hours or days to die. Even more puzzling are near-death experiences—vivid memories and thoughts reported during minimal or no brain activity. These findings challenge our understanding of consciousness and its connection to the brain, raising profound questions about life and what lies beyond. Redefining Death Traditionally, death was defined by the irreversible cessation of heart and lung function, known as cardiopulmonary death. However, modern advances in intensive care have complicated this definition, enabling doctors to sustain a heartbeat …