• At death you can “see” a summary of life
• A discovery by accident
• We don’t know exactly when life ends
• A source of hope
• Increased gamma activity

Neuroscientists at the University of Tartu in Estonia have recorded the activity of a dying human brain and discovered rhythmic patterns of brain waves around the time of death that are similar to those that occur during dreams, remembrance and meditation.

AT DEATH YOU CAN “SEE” A SUMMARY OF LIFE

The researchers believe that this process of brain reorganization could explain the “life summary” that many people contemplate in “near-death experiences” (NDEs). In just a few seconds, people relive the most memorable moments of their lives.

What happens in the brain during these experiences and after death are questions that have intrigued the human being. According to the paper published by Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, the brain may remain active and coordinated during and even after the transition to death.

A DISCOVERY BY ACCIDENT

They hypothesize from the case of an 87-year-old patient, who died of a heart attack while undergoing an electroencephalography (EEG) after having gone to the emergency room for a fall that caused a brain hematoma. The unexpected event allowed scientists to record the activity of a dying human brain for the first time.

WE DON’T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN LIFE ENDS

“We measured 900 seconds of brain activity around the time of death and established a specific approach to investigate what happened in the 30 seconds before and after the heart stopped beating,” said Dr. Ajmal Zemmar, a neurosurgeon at the University of Louisville who led the research.

“Just before and after the heart stopped working, we saw changes in a specific band of brain electrical activity, in so-called gamma waves, but also in others, such as delta, theta, alpha and beta waves.”

Brain waves are patterns of rhythmic brain activity that are normally present in living human brains. Different types of waves or oscillations, including gamma waves, are involved in cognitive functions, such as concentration, sleep, meditation, memory retrieval, information processing, and conscious perception, as are those associated with memory flashbacks.

“Through the generation of waves involved in memory retrieval, the brain may be reproducing a last memory of important life events before death, similar to those reported in near-death experiences,” Zemmar speculated.

“These findings challenge our understanding of when exactly life ends and raise important subsequent questions, such as those related to the timing of organ donation.”

A SOURCE OF HOPE

While this study is the first of its kind to measure brain activity during the death process in humans, similar changes in gamma waves have previously been observed in rats maintained in controlled environments. This means that it is possible that, during death, the brain organizes and executes a biological response that could be conserved in all species.

However, these measurements are based on a single case and come from the brain of a patient who had suffered injuries, seizures and brain swelling, which complicates the interpretation of the data. However, Zemmar plans to investigate more cases and sees these results as a source of hope.

“As a neurosurgeon, sometimes I face losses. It is indescribably difficult to break the news of the death to distraught relatives,” he said. “One thing we can learn from this research is that although our loved ones have their eyes closed and are ready to leave us, their brains may be reproducing some of the best moments they had in their lives.”

INCREASED GAMMA ACTIVITY

The study notes that before death there was an increase in gamma wave activity, which was not reduced like the other rhythmic patterns after cardiac para. In fact, coordination or coupling with other brain waves from different areas of the brain was observed. The human brain may possess the ability to generate coordinated activity immediately before and after clinical death, the authors say.

The researchers warn that the results of their research have to be contrasted with new studies that rule out the influence of the clinical situation and the drugs administered to the patient.

The post What happens in the brain when you die? The surprising finding of a study appeared first on FreeLifeHealth.

Proper blood flow in and out of the brain is essential for its proper functioning. A thrombus or blood clot in a blood vessel in the brain can cause strokes and strokes. Hemorrhage is life-threatening, and the death of neurons from lack of oxygen and nutrients can lead to severe disabilities. Thrombi are the enemy and a scientific team from North Carolina State University (NCSU) has created the ultimate weapon to eliminate them: a tool that creates a sonic tornado capable of breaking down blood clots in the brain.

WHAT IS THE ULTRASOUND VORTEX?

The tool consists of a transducer specially designed to create a swirling and vortex effect using ultrasound. The device is also small enough to fit inside a catheter, which doctors can insert through the circulatory system to the location of the blood clot. To test the technology, the researchers created a 3D-printed model of the cerebral venous sinus, where they placed a cow blood clot.

The ultrasonic “tornado” offers a faster solution in in vitro models of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) than currently available existing techniques for removing clots (the system has not yet been tested in people). “Based on available data, pharmaceutical interventions to dissolve CVST blood clots take at least 15 hours and an average of around 29 hours,” reports Professor Shi. “During in vitro testing, we were able to dissolve an acute blood clot in less than half an hour.” In this way, the damage caused by stroke and bleeding could be greatly reduced.

“Our previous work looked at various techniques that use ultrasound to remove blood clots using what are essentially forward-propelled waves,” explains Xiaoning Jiang, co-author of the study in a statement from the university. “Our new work uses vortex ultrasound, where the ultrasound waves have a helical wavefront.”

“In other words, ultrasound swirls as it goes,” says Xiaoning, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at NCSU. “Based on our in vitro tests, this approach removes blood clots more quickly than existing techniques, largely due to vortex wave-induced shear stress.”

“The fact that our new technique works quickly is important, because CVST clots increase pressure on blood vessels in the brain,” adds Chengzhi Shi, co-author of the paper and assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Georgia Tech. “This increases the risk of bleeding in the brain, which can be catastrophic for patients.”

“Existing techniques rely heavily on interventions that dissolve the blood clot. But this is a time-consuming process. Our approach has the potential to address these clots more quickly, reducing the risk to patients.”

“Another reason why our work here is important is that current treatments for TSVC fail in 20-40% of cases,” says Professor Xiaoning.

CASES OF BLOOD CLOTS IN THE BRAIN ARE INCREASING

CVSTs occur when a clot forms inside the veins responsible for draining blood out of the brain. CVST incidence rates were between two and three per 100,000 people in the United States in 2018 and 2019, but the incidence rate appears to be increasing since then.

There is always a risk of damage during any catheterization or intervention, but the new tool may cause fewer injuries than other options. For example, it could damage the blood vessel itself.

To allay this concern, the study authors conducted a series of experiments by applying vortex ultrasound to samples of animal blood veins. Those tests produced no evidence of damage inflicted on blood vessel walls. Further tests were performed to assess whether vortex ultrasound caused significant damage to red blood cells, but no substantial damage was observed.

“The next step is for us to conduct tests using an animal model to better establish the feasibility of this technique for CVST treatment,” says Professor Jiang. “If those trials are successful, we look forward to continuing clinical trials.” The study has been published in the journal Research.

The post They invent a technology that can destroy clots in the brain appeared first on FreeLifeHealth.