Scientists to study near-death experiences in cardiac arrest

19 September 2008

British and US scientists are to carry out the world's largest study of the brain and consciousness during cardiac arrest in an attempt to shed light on near-death experiences.

Up to a fifth of people who go through cardiac arrest and clinical death report lucid thought processes, memories and often detailed recall of events during their encounter with death.

Some even report looking down at medical staff from the ceiling or witnessing a tunnel or bright light.

A team led by Dr Sam Parnia, an expert in the field of consciousness during clinical death, will now use sophisticated technology to study the brain and consciousness during cardiac arrest and to test the validity of out-of-body experiences and claims that patients are able to 'see' and 'hear'.

Dr Parnia explained that, during cardiac arrest, all three criteria of death - the heart stops beating, the lungs stop working and the brain ceases functioning - are present.

"There then follows a period of time, which may last from a few seconds to an hour or more, in which emergency medical efforts may succeed in restarting the heart and reversing the dying process," he continued.

"What people experience during this period of cardiac arrest provides a unique window of understanding into what we are all likely to experience during the dying process."

The AWARE (AWAreness during REsuscitation) study is to be launched at the University of Southampton and will involve scientists and doctors from around the world.

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