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Life After Death: 'Near-Death Experience' Study Shows Awareness Continues After Brain Shutdown
IB Times ^ | 10/07/2014 | Lydia Smith

Posted on 10/07/2014 7:42:12 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

Researchers conducting the largest ever study into near-death experiences have discovered that awareness may continue even after the brain has shut down, revealing more about what happens when we die.

Scientists at the University of Southampton studied more than 2,000 people who suffered cardiac arrests at 15 hospitals across Britain, Austria and the United States.

Around 40% of patients who survived described "awareness" during the time before their hearts were restarted, when they were clinically dead.

One 57-year-old man, a social worker from Southampton, described the noise of the machines and what the medical staff were doing during this time.

Dr Sam Parnia, who led the study, told the Daily Telegraph: "We know the brain can't function when the heart has stopped beating. But in this case, conscious awareness appears to have continued for up to three minutes into the period when the heart wasn't beating, even though the brain typically shuts down within 20 to 30 seconds after the heart has stopped."

"The man described everything that had happened in the room, but importantly, he heard two bleeps from a machine that makes a noise at three minute intervals. So we could time how long the experience lasted for," he added.

"He seemed very credible and everything that he said had happened to him had actually happened."

For the study, the scientists examined 2,060 cardiac arrest patients. Of the 330 that survived, 140 said they had experienced some kind of awareness while being resuscitated.

One in five said they felt a sense of peacefulness. Some said they saw a bright light and felt time had sped up or slowed down, while others described the feeling as drowning or being submerged in deep water.

Parnia suggested more people may have similar experiences when close to death,

(Excerpt) Read more at ibtimes.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Current Events; General Discusssion; Religion & Culture; Religion & Science
KEYWORDS: afterlife; brain; lifeafterlife; mind; nde; neardeath; neardeathexperience
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1 posted on 10/07/2014 7:42:12 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Ascent of the Blessed by Hieronymus Bosch is associated with aspects of near-death experiences
2 posted on 10/07/2014 7:42:48 AM PDT by SeekAndFind (If at first you don't succeed, put it out for beta test.)
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To: SeekAndFind
I'm a Believer, but I remember once when I passed out from heatstroke. One minutes I was standing, the next I was on the ground with a bump where I hit something on the way down. There was no sense of time between the two moments. I have wondered since if that showed that it is possible to exist without consciousness.
3 posted on 10/07/2014 7:46:08 AM PDT by Fido969 (What's sad is most)
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To: Fido969

“... it is possible to exist without consciousness.”

Democrats DO It as a Matter of Regular Habit!


4 posted on 10/07/2014 7:52:30 AM PDT by MeshugeMikey ("Never, Never, Never, Give Up," Winston Churchill)
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To: SeekAndFind

I’ve shared this before, but I think it bears repeating.

I once had a patient who reported having two near death experiences. At the time of the first one she claims to have been a Christian and experienced the stereotypical light, warmth, feeling of peace.

When she had her second she had left Christianity for one of the cults that circles around the edge of the faith and felt torment and pain.

I also had a neighbor who was in the hospital for an extended period and went into cardiac arrest. He told me that he knows there is retribution (his word). When he shared his experience he trembled and was in tears. He would not listen to the Gospel as I shared because he told me his sin was too great to be forgiven.

I think there is something to all of this, but don’t spend too much time dwelling on it as Scripture is silent on the topic.


5 posted on 10/07/2014 7:53:14 AM PDT by Gamecock
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To: Fido969
The existence of Obola proves that.

:>|

6 posted on 10/07/2014 7:53:47 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum ("The man who damns money obtained it dishonorably; the man who respects it earned it." --Ayn Rand)
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To: MeshugeMikey

7 posted on 10/07/2014 7:54:20 AM PDT by SeekAndFind (If at first you don't succeed, put it out for beta test.)
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To: SeekAndFind

I’ve been put under for surgery twice. It’s a fascinating experience and I think it is what death will be like.

For me it went like this: the anesth... aneste... ansthesiol... the guy that knocks you out told me to take a breath. In the middle of the breath my wife is waking me up in the recovery room two and a half hours later.

But for us, rather than 2.5 hours it will be the length of time between our death and the great white throne judgement.


8 posted on 10/07/2014 7:54:47 AM PDT by cuban leaf (The US will not survive the obama presidency. The world may not either.)
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To: Fido969
I have wondered since if that showed that it is possible to exist without consciousness.

I think the more fascinating question is whether it is possible to have consciousness without existence.

The thought that this might possibly be the case is why I continue to find myself talking out loud to my late girlfriend who passed away in January 2013.

9 posted on 10/07/2014 7:56:55 AM PDT by Maceman
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To: SeekAndFind
I can't quite correlate the title of the post to the narrative.

The story describes clinical death at the cease of heartbeat. Further in the story, a doctor says the brain can function for up to 3 minutes after loss of heartbeat. The brain may not be shut down during this period of awareness as the headline implies only the heart.

10 posted on 10/07/2014 8:00:04 AM PDT by pfflier
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To: Gamecock

Too bad your neighbor felt like he could never be forgiven. He was obviously sent back with a chance to repent and find God. Not too many get a literal warning!


11 posted on 10/07/2014 8:00:35 AM PDT by mdmathis6
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To: SeekAndFind

** “We know the brain can’t function when the heart has stopped beating. But in this case, conscious awareness appears to have continued for up to three minutes into the period when the heart wasn’t beating, even though the brain typically shuts down within 20 to 30 seconds after the heart has stopped.”**

Many of the near death experiences had longer intervals of NDEs that what this man is saying.


12 posted on 10/07/2014 8:01:21 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: SeekAndFind
LOL.
The snag of believability USED to be "BRITISH SCIENCE has found that...."

Now it's simply "Researchers" and "Scientists." They always and always and always and always have an agenda and their hypothesis, population and methodology are HOPELESSLY skewed to prove their pet hypothesis.

All I have to say is:

Bah, humbug!

13 posted on 10/07/2014 8:02:46 AM PDT by cloudmountain
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To: SeekAndFind

I am somewhat skeptical of the statement that the brain cannot function when the heart is not beating.

Perhaps a stopped heart leads to unconsciousness, but no one would say the brain immediately “dies” the second the heart stops.


14 posted on 10/07/2014 8:05:53 AM PDT by Williams
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To: mdmathis6

During this time his wife became a Christian. Pray that God uses her witness in a mighty way.


15 posted on 10/07/2014 8:09:26 AM PDT by Gamecock
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To: SeekAndFind

This is a great book to read because it gives the doctor's scientific explanation of what was happening with the patient and then gives the story of the patient's NDE.

I recommend it wholeheartedly.

16 posted on 10/07/2014 8:10:45 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Gamecock
my earliest recollection is of my near death experience upon birth - I was transported through a dark place, to appear before Christ....He simply said, "it is not your time" and I was rushed back.....in my teen years my mother shared that I was born dead, purple with the cord around my neck.

Its not something I generally share, but has had a profound effect on me my entire life. It was completely peaceful.

17 posted on 10/07/2014 8:13:41 AM PDT by Revelation 911
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To: Williams
Perhaps a stopped heart leads to unconsciousness, but no one would say the brain immediately “dies” the second the heart stops.

I thought they said about 30 seconds after the heart stops. I'm guessing due to oxygen depredation since no oxygen-rich blood is getting to the brain.

18 posted on 10/07/2014 8:15:07 AM PDT by CommerceComet (Ignore the GOP-e. Cruz to victory in 2016.)
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To: Maceman

my sincere condolences.


19 posted on 10/07/2014 8:15:59 AM PDT by Revelation 911
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To: cloudmountain

Have you ever saw the movie, or read the book, which I have, “Heaven Is For Real”, about one kid’s experience? I have. Wonderful book.


20 posted on 10/07/2014 8:16:37 AM PDT by Biggirl (“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
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