There Is Brain Activity 10 Minutes After Death, New Study Says

Does the human brain stop functioning as soon as the heart stops? A new study by Canadian doctors shows otherwise, and that brain activity continues until 10 minutes after death.

In the study, one out of the four patients observed showed brain activity within 30 minutes after cardiac function stopped. One particular patient registered “single delta wave bursts” 10 minutes after clinical death.

Brain Activity After Death May Not Be A Myth

The study provides some scientific evidence in the belief that human brains continue to function even after the patient’s last breath. Doctors and scientists originally thought that any activity stops once the heart stops.

Telegraph reported  that earlier studies have shown that genes continue to function, some more energetically, within days after death. The brain may be no different.

The study looked at four ICU patients, and the doctors noted that single delta wave bursts were captured after they declared the patient clinically dead. The three other patients did not display any activity. Humans who are in deep sleep register a similar type of brain activity, according to an Inquirer report.

Study Implications On Organ Harvesting

Doctors were not able to find any reasons why one patient’s brain continued to function 10 minutes after his death.

The study recommends further research, especially looking at the electroencephalogram (EEG) readings after death, to determine when it is best to prepare the body for organ donation. Considering these findings, there may be ethical and legal implications with regards to organ harvesting.

Earlier research on brain function have only been conducted with laboratory rats. This showed that brain activity happens in “one huge surge” within one minute after death. Given that the Canadian study only sampled a small group of ICU patients, further studies need to be conducted to unravel this mystery.