DO WE SENSE DEATH AT THE EDGE OF LIFE?

🧠 Biological Perspective

In many cases, yes — the body and brain do sense death approaching:

The brain remains active for seconds or even minutes after the heart stops. Some studies on cardiac arrest patients show bursts of brain activity resembling “heightened consciousness” just before death.

People who have had near-death experiences often report a calm realization that they were dying — a detachment from pain, and sometimes a “life review.”

The autonomic system sends powerful signals as oxygen drops — some describe it as an overwhelming fatigue, others as a peaceful surrender.

But in other cases (sudden trauma, anesthesia, certain heart attacks), there is no awareness at all — consciousness ends instantly.