The question of what transpires after death has perpetually intrigued humanity throughout history. For countless individuals, the belief in an afterlife provides solace. Yet, science currently offers no definitive answer. This article delves into the physiological events following the final heartbeat, accounts from those who have survived clinical death, potential scientific evidence for an afterlife, and the varied interpretations of this ultimate mystery across cultures and religions.
Life After Death
Anna Ovsyannikova, an associate professor at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation`s Department of Mathematics and Data Analysis, notes: «The query `Is there life after death?` transcends a mere philosophical dilemma; it`s an existential inquiry that resonates with everyone. It bridges ancient civilizations and modern laboratories, sacred spaces and academic institutions, uniting both believers and skeptics. Advances in medicine and neuroscience have rendered the boundary between life and death more permeable, yet no less enigmatic.»
What Is Death?
In the 21st century, death is understood not merely as an event but as a progression. According to Anna Ovsyannikova, contemporary medicine identifies several distinct stages:
- Clinical Death: This state occurs when breathing and blood circulation cease, but brain tissues have not yet perished. This `window` typically lasts 4-6 minutes before irreversible changes begin.
- Biological Death: Signifies the complete and irreversible cessation of all vital bodily functions.
- Brain Death: Recognized as an official criterion for death in many nations, this condition, as defined by the American Academy of Neurology, involves the irreversible loss of all brain functions, including the brainstem.
The expert further remarks, «Intriguingly, recent findings suggest a brief preservation of brain activity even after cardiac arrest, challenging previously held definitions of life and death boundaries.»
Clinical Death and Near-Death Experiences
Among the most perplexing phenomena are near-death experiences (NDEs), reported by up to 20% of individuals who have survived cardiac arrest. These accounts often share striking similarities, including:
- Sensations of out-of-body experiences;
- Perceiving a light at the end of a tunnel;
- Feelings of profound peace and love;
- Encounters with deceased relatives;
- A panoramic review of one`s life.
In 2017, researchers at the University of Liège in Belgium analyzed written accounts from 154 patients who had undergone clinical death. Nearly all described three consistent sensations: a feeling of tranquility, traveling through a long tunnel, and encountering a bright light at the end of this journey. Some survivors even reported out-of-body experiences and encounters with angelic or spiritual beings in this state.
However, the sequence of these experiences varied among the majority. Only 20 percent of those surveyed reported an out-of-body experience preceding their journey through the tunnel and towards the light. According to the study`s authors, this suggests that near-death experiences are highly individualized, with potential influences from one`s language and cultural background shaping the sensations and hallucinations encountered during the dying process.
Expert Anna Ovsyannikova mentioned, «The most extensive research on this subject is the AWARE project, led by Dr. Sam Parnia. Conducted from 2008 to 2014, it involved 2,060 patients in hospitals across the USA and the UK. Approximately 39% of participants reported a sense of awareness during cardiac arrest, with one patient accurately describing events in the operating room even when their brain activity was no longer present.»
Over nearly four years, researchers compiled accounts from patients who survived clinical death due to cardiac arrest. Scientists interviewed the doctors and nurses involved in resuscitation efforts. Strikingly, most survivors recounted medical staff conversations almost verbatim and accurately recalled the sequence of procedures. A third of patients described feeling as though events unfolded very slowly, with time appearing to stand still. Furthermore, Americans who experienced near-death states, similar to their Belgian counterparts, reported feelings of profound peace, witnessed bright light, and observed their physical bodies from an external perspective.
Researchers at the University of Montreal in Canada successfully recorded brain activity even after an electroencephalogram (EEG) displayed a flatline, which is typically the primary indicator of nerve cell death. Initially, they observed brain activity above the flatline EEG of a patient in a deep coma. Subsequently, similar fluctuations were detected in the EEGs of cats intentionally induced into a reversible coma. These previously unidentified oscillations originated in the hippocampus—a brain region crucial for memory and cognitive functions—and then transmitted to the cerebral cortex.
According to American scientists, the brain does not cease to function with the heart; instead, it appears to operate at an accelerated pace. Dopamine, a pleasure hormone vital for the reward system and cognitive processes, sees its release increase by almost 12 times. This surge might explain why individuals experience both profound peacefulness and a sense of rapid thought, as reported by 65 percent of clinical death survivors.
Furthermore, during agony, serotonin levels increase twentyfold, activating numerous corresponding receptors in the brain. These receptors are, in turn, linked to visual hallucinations. Out-of-body experiences, encounters with angels and spirits, and the bright light at the tunnel`s end could all be manifestations of this `happiness hormone` release.
Israeli researchers, conversely, attribute near-death experiences to brain malfunction caused by oxygen deprivation from cardiac arrest and impaired blood flow. The sensation of one`s entire life flashing before their eyes—recalled by nearly half of survivors—is likely due to the activation of the prefrontal, medial temporal, and parietal lobes. These brain regions retain blood and oxygen longer than others and are the last to cease functioning.
Collectively, these findings suggest that the brain may continue to function for a period after the heart stops, potentially preserving consciousness.
What Happens to the Body After Death?
Immediately following the cessation of circulation, a cascade of physiological changes begins within the body.
Concurrently, certain cells, such as those in the skin, cornea, and bone marrow, remain viable for several hours post-mortem. This allows for their use in transplantation, indicating that death is not a singular, instantaneous event, but rather a transitional phase.
Scientific Evidence for Life After Death
According to Anna Ovsyannikova, current scientific understanding lacks conclusive proof of an afterlife. No near-death experience can be objectively verified as a genuine encounter with another realm. All reported descriptions are explainable by brain activity under hypoxic conditions (lack of oxygen), the release of endorphins, or final neural processes.
Nevertheless, in 2023, a team of neurophysiologists from the University of Michigan published a study observing a burst of organized brain activity in rats after cardiac arrest, resembling a waking state. This finding sparked discussion about a `final brain awakening`—a mysterious neuro-peak where consciousness might persist longer than previously thought.
Scientists` Opinions on Life After Death
Physicist Roger Penrose (Nobel laureate, 2020) and anesthesiologist Stuart Hameroff have proposed a hypothesis regarding the quantum nature of consciousness, positing that information could exist independently of the physical body. While their theory remains unconfirmed, it continues to inspire philosophers and science communicators.
Meanwhile, a 2021 Pew Research survey indicated that only 27% of natural scientists in the U.S. believe in an afterlife. The remaining majority either explicitly deny its existence (54%) or view it as a philosophical question beyond scientific resolution.
Cultural and Religious Conceptions of the Afterlife
Anna Ovsyannikova points out that humanity has developed dozens of afterlife concepts, ranging from resurrection to reincarnation:
- In Egyptian mythology, death entails a soul`s journey through Duat (the underworld) for judgment by Osiris.
- Norse mythology describes brave warriors entering Valhalla, a grand hall where they feast with the gods.
- Christianity features Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory, where the soul awaits the Final Judgment.
- Buddhism and Hinduism embrace reincarnation, an endless cycle of rebirths leading to the eventual attainment of nirvana or moksha.
A 2022 Gallup poll revealed that 72% of people globally believe in life after death. This belief manifests in various forms but remains a universal human phenomenon.
Nikolai Bukanev, a history popularizer and creator of the historical-popular channel `11 ECU`, explains that for many, denying any form of afterlife is an attempt to contend with the fear of the unknown. «If everyone were convinced that death instantly and entirely ends existence, erasing personality, consciousness, and memory, then the end of life wouldn`t be so unsettling. Therefore, people often find it more comfortable to persuade themselves that there is no afterlife, by discussing certain scientific studies, the absence of evidence, or the lack of `signals from the other side`. In such a scenario, one wouldn`t have to account for their overt and hidden deeds in this life,» the expert states.
For religious individuals, the answer also embodies salvation. By leading righteous lives and adhering to the tenets of their faith, they are entitled to anticipate a better fate than those who do not.
According to Nikolai Bukanev, these two seemingly opposing viewpoints are, in essence, quite similar. It appears that all people, in some way, believe something happens after death. Some anticipate a Great Judgment where they will attain a superior eternal life, while others believe death offers liberation from life`s burdens, a complete erasure of all `files,` both beneficial and detrimental.
The perspective that there is nothing after death fundamentally resembles Eastern notions where the ultimate grace in the cycle of continuous rebirths is the cessation of the wheel of Samsara, leading to the complete deletion of all `files` that connect us to life.
The expert further elaborates, «In monotheistic religions, particularly Christianity, earthly life is considered the foundation for future existence, serving as an examination before we face the ultimate Judge. Therefore, there`s no intent to erase our earthly experience; rather, every action and every day will be remembered, and we will bear responsibility for them. To mitigate the severity, as humans are prone to error, Christianity offers the sacrament of confession, where one can seek forgiveness for sins in advance, as this option is unavailable after death. Moreover, there is another concession, a path to passing the ultimate Examination: the prayers of one`s relatives and descendants. This is why we pray for our departed friends, family, and acquaintances—not merely to send greetings, but to lighten their burden in the afterlife. And perhaps, it also prompts us to consider ourselves: is it time for preparation?»
Expert Opinion
Anna Ovsyannikova, Associate Professor at the Department of Mathematics and Data Analysis, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, posits: «Why is this question so crucial? Death acts as a mirror reflecting life. Acknowledging its inevitability shapes our personal values, motivation, and worldview. The meaning of life, a sense of duty, the drive for creativity—all these might exist precisely because we comprehend that everything will eventually conclude.»
Regardless of whether an afterlife exists, this question remains one of the most potent drivers for scientific inquiry, religious contemplation, and artistic expression.
Modern science is still far from fully comprehending the nature of consciousness and the ultimate boundaries of life. However, one thing is clear: belief in an afterlife is not merely an attempt to evade the fear of death, but also a means to imbue meaning into our present existence.
«Man can be destroyed but not defeated,» wrote Hemingway. Perhaps, it is precisely in this resilience in the face of finitude that our immortal essence resides.
