900 Seconds
Neuroscientists have been trying to sort out what happens when we die for ages. A recent study published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience suggest our brains may be active and coordinated during, and even after, death. Like most discoveries, this one came by accident.
An elderly epileptic patient was being monitored using an EEG to detect seizures. During that monitoring, the patient died unexpectedly and the team of doctors was able to record brain activity of a dying individual for the first time ever.
Just before and after the patient’s death they recorded changes in specific neural oscillations, specifically in gamma, delta, theta, alpha, and beta oscillations. These oscillations (we commonly call them “brain waves”) are traditionally associated with higher cognitive functioning such as dreaming, memory recall, information processing, and conscious perception.
These neural oscillations occurred for 900 seconds. That’s 15 minutes. So maybe the anecdotal reports of our lives flashing before our eyes as we die is true. And it may occur even after death.
Wouldn’t that be something? For 15 minutes after we die we play a short film of all the important events and important people we have encountered along the way?
The article I read sent me on a mental exercise: I started thinking about who the cast of my 15 minute film would be. I’ve interacted with thousands of people on this earth in my lifetime, but I could only come up with a list of 12 people that would star in my last film. And if that 15 minute film is the culmination of my life’s work, I wondered why I bothered with being bothered by the words and actions and opinions of thousands of people who didn’t make my list? They didn’t make the final edit. No credits in the final film.
My roster has changed over the years. I’d say that when I was younger the cast was bigger for sure. I wonder if my list is small now because I’m an introvert, or because I’m difficult, or whatever is behind door number three.
This mental exercise of the Final Film took me to another place. I thought, “Why wait until I’m dying to watch this?” So I started setting aside 15 minutes in the evening to play versions of what I think my Final Film might look like. I was surprised how pleasant and fun this was. How meaningful it was. I don’t have a fantastic memory, but it is vivid. I can recreate colors and smells and sounds from past events. Making this “viewing” intentional allowed me to spend some time with those that have made my life rich. Some of whom are no longer with us. Some of whom are no longer connected to me in this life. The film transcended time and circumstance. And it filled me with joy.
So who’s on your list? Who would make your final edit? I wonder how much time and energy you’ve spent on people who wouldn’t be in your Final Film.
If you happen to be by my side when I pass from this life to the next, please wait about 15 minutes after I flatline. My movie is playing and you might be in the cast. You can bring some popcorn if you like. But please silence your cell phones.
