Near death experiences explained.

[downbeatplumb]

In the 30-second period after the animal's hearts stopped beating, they measured a sharp increase in high-frequency brainwaves called gamma oscillations.

These pulses are one of the neuronal features that are thought to underpin consciousness in humans, especially when they help to "link" information from different parts of the brain.

In the rats, these electrical pulses were found at even higher levels just after the cardiac arrest than when animals were awake and well.

Dr Borjigin said it was feasible that the same thing would happen in the human brain, and that an elevated level of brain activity and consciousness could give rise to near-death visions.

Neurons
Neurons in the brain may go into overdrive around the point of death
"This can give us a framework to begin to explain these. The fact they see light perhaps indicates the visual cortex in the brain is highly activated - and we have evidence to suggest this might be the case, because we have seen increased gamma in area of the brain that is right on top of the visual cortex," she said.

"We have seen increased coupling between the lower-frequency waves and the gamma that has been shown to be a feature of visual awareness and visual sensation."

However, she said that to confirm the findings a study would have to be carried out on humans who have experienced clinical death and have been revived.

Commenting on the research, Dr Jason Braithwaite, of the University of Birmingham, said the phenomenon appeared to be the brain's "last hurrah".

"This is a very neat demonstration of an idea that's been around for a long time: that under certain unfamiliar and confusing circumstances - like near-death - the brain becomes overstimulated and hyperexcited," he said.

Striking
"Like 'fire raging through the brain', activity can surge through brain areas involved in conscious experience, furnishing all resultant perceptions with realer-than-real feelings and emotions."

But he added: "One limitation is that we do not know when, in time, the near-death experience really occurs. Perhaps it was before patients had anaesthesia, or at some safe point during an operation long before cardiac arrest.

"However, for those instances where experiences may occur around the time of cardiac arrest - or beyond it - these new findings provide further meat to the bones of the idea that the brain drives these fascinating and striking experiences"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23672150

[Godscreated]

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In the 30-second period after the animal's hearts stopped beating, they measured a sharp increase in high-frequency brainwaves called gamma oscillations.

These pulses are one of the neuronal features that are thought to underpin consciousness in humans, especially when they help to "link" information from different parts of the brain.

In the rats, these electrical pulses were found at even higher levels just after the cardiac arrest than when animals were awake and well.

Dr Borjigin said it was feasible that the same thing would happen in the human brain, and that an elevated level of brain activity and consciousness could give rise to near-death visions.

Neurons
Neurons in the brain may go into overdrive around the point of death
"This can give us a framework to begin to explain these. The fact they see light perhaps indicates the visual cortex in the brain is highly activated - and we have evidence to suggest this might be the case, because we have seen increased gamma in area of the brain that is right on top of the visual cortex," she said.

"We have seen increased coupling between the lower-frequency waves and the gamma that has been shown to be a feature of visual awareness and visual sensation."

However, she said that to confirm the findings a study would have to be carried out on humans who have experienced clinical death and have been revived.

Commenting on the research, Dr Jason Braithwaite, of the University of Birmingham, said the phenomenon appeared to be the brain's "last hurrah".

"This is a very neat demonstration of an idea that's been around for a long time: that under certain unfamiliar and confusing circumstances - like near-death - the brain becomes overstimulated and hyperexcited," he said.

Striking
"Like 'fire raging through the brain', activity can surge through brain areas involved in conscious experience, furnishing all resultant perceptions with realer-than-real feelings and emotions."

But he added: "One limitation is that we do not know when, in time, the near-death experience really occurs. Perhaps it was before patients had anaesthesia, or at some safe point during an operation long before cardiac arrest.

"However, for those instances where experiences may occur around the time of cardiac arrest - or beyond it - these new findings provide further meat to the bones of the idea that the brain drives these fascinating and striking experiences"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23672150

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[Silver]

Wouldn't this go against the belief there's no free will.

How is the brain faking a heavenly experience have anything to do with free will?

[Godscreated]

Wouldn't this go against the belief there's no free will.

How is the brain faking a heavenly experience have anything to do with free will?

It would have to make a choice to do so, even nonbelievers have near death experiences. The light thing described doesn't cover the near death experiences of a dark and smelly hell, enter another sensory.

GC

[Fidel_Castronaut]

I do love the comments by theists (and some trolls) on the comments section.

Comedy gold.

[downbeatplumb]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23672150[/hide]

To many feasible and though to's to be relevant, besides why would the brain do such a thing. Wouldn't this go against the belief there's no free will.

Its a description of the physical effects on the brain at the moment of death, basically an electrical shit storm that creates delusion.

What does this have to do with free will? its just what happens.

[Minimalist]

With the delusions you already have while conscious, G-C, the brain farts you have when you are dying should be Cecil B. De Mille standard!

[freedomfromforum]

Wiki "Binaural Beats" prior to attempting to listen to this. Decide for yourself prior to listening if this appeals to you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axTImghP9Ts
This is a youtube video with a one hour session of gamma wave binaural beats. Must listen with headphones at lower volume. It's strange at first, but it's actually pretty cool. have fun.