A mysterious death wave discovered by French researchers

is death A complex process Which raises many questions even today. What happens in the brain? At the time of death? Are we dying but the brain remains active? Scientists have the beginnings of an answer. French researchers at the Brain Institute analyzed brain activity at the time of death and discovered for the first time that the brain produces electric wavebears witnessa “beginning” brain activity.” This wave, called the “death wave,” occurs when The brain is no longer oxygenated for a certain time. This wave propagates such as “a wave” In the cerebral cortex, changes in brain function and structure. This is the event Complex:

Neurons are not yet dead, but inactive and unable to transmit electrical messages.

A reversible event

But contrary to what its name suggests, this wave of death is not synonymous with death and in some cases it will be. Reversible, according to researchers. However, from the moment the death wave arrives, You have to act fast.

► In the absence of interference“This wave is a total stop and final brain activity, notes Antoine Carton-Leclerc, doctoral student and first author of the study. which we call Brain death.

► If resuscitation is attempted As the brain is reoxygenated in time, another similar wave—called a “resuscitation wave”—may pass through the brain, marking the beginning of a gradual increase in brain activity. In other words, neurons that seem dead become active again. which we call “Restoration of brain functions“. Besides, “It is possible that these waves are involved Near Death Experiences (NDE)

Reported by some survivors of cardio-respiratory arrest”. Keep up the explorers.

A better understanding of death

To achieve these results published in the journal Neurobiology of diseaseResearchers use Anesthetized rats. They recorded the electrical activity of their neurons Different layers of the cortex Primary somatosensory, an area of ​​the brain that plays a key role in representing the body and processing sensory information. This neuronal activity was measured Before, during and after death. “We observed this same dynamic under different experimental conditions, And it seems to exist in humans“, explain the researchers.

“A flat electrocardiogram does not mean that brain functions have stopped permanently”

This new study advances our knowledge of neural mechanisms as death approaches. “It is now established that from the physical point of view, there is death A process that takes its time… And it is currently impossible to strictly separate it from life. We know that tooA flat electrocardiogram does not mean permanent termination brain functions“, concludes Professor Stéphane Charpierre (Sorbonne University), head of the research team. Now, in order to develop neuroprotective drugs, we must establish under which specific conditions these functions can be restored. To support regeneration

In case of heart and lung failure.