The One Thing Waiting for Us As We Die
Enhanced interplay of neuronal coherence and coupling in the dying human brain — A new study.
“Steve’s final words were: ‘Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.’”
Yes, these were the last words of Steve Jobs, as was shared during the eulogy of his sister Mona Simpson.
My mom passed away in 2021. But, I can still remember that morning when she finally said goodbye. She waited for her great-grandson, and as soon as he arrived, this 3-year old boy who would usually say hello to our mom said goodbye.
Our mom, said, ‘I love you, MatMat.”
Before that, we had 21 days to be at her side, at home, in the company of her family in the middle of the pandemic.
She wanted to rest by our side.
As she took her last breath, she closed her eyes, no wailing. She just closed her eyes. I laid her down on her bed, and she was at peace.
Now she is at rest.
We heard of this familiar story, of those who lived to tell what it is like on the other side—the ones who came back from a near-death experience.
They say that they saw their life flashed before their very eyes. A new study has been released by a group of neurosurgeons — Enhanced interplay of neuronal coherence and coupling in the dying human brain.
The study happened by accident; neurosurgeons studied the brain waves of an 87-year-old man who developed epilepsy. In the course of their neurological recordings, the man experienced a fatal heart attack.
It revealed that in the 30 seconds before and after the man died, the man’s brainwaves followed the same patterns as dreaming or recalling memories.
Life recall
Dr. Ajmal Zemmar, a neurosurgeon at the University of Louisville, US, and his team recorded the brain activity of the 87-year-old man. During the 900 seconds his team recorded, the last 30 seconds before the man’s heart stopped beating, and the 30 seconds showed gamma oscillations until his brain died.
Brain oscillations (more commonly known as ‘brain waves’) are patterns of rhythmic brain activity normally present in living human brains. The different types of oscillations, including gamma, are involved in high-cognitive functions, such as concentrating, dreaming, meditation, memory retrieval, information processing, and conscious perception, just like those associated with memory flashbacks.
Although everything that this study suggests is based on a single death, it shows that the man's brain waves are similar to the brain waves we have when we are trying to recall memories or memory flashbacks.
And it gets better, Dr. Ajmal Zemmar believes that as we die we will be recalling the good times in our lives, the most memorable memories in our life, and it could be the ones when we are at our happiest.
“Something we may learn from this research is: although our loved ones have their eyes closed and are ready to leave us to rest, their brains may be replaying some of the nicest moments they experienced in their lives.” — Dr. Zemmar
The jury is still out there when life ends? Is it when our hearts stop beating or when our brain stops functioning.
Although this story is about one man, similar studies on rats may offer some clues.
In a 2013 study — US researchers reported high levels of brainwaves at the point of the death until 30 seconds after the rats’ hearts stopped beating — just like the findings found in Dr Zemmar’s epileptic patient.
Steve Jobs on Death
‘Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.’ — Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs said, ‘Death is very likely the single best invention of life.’ He left these words as he breathed his last, ‘Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.’
We don't know what he saw, but it is reassuring that when my Mom died, all she saw were the happiest times of her life.
And when I die, I know I will see the same. I’m not afraid of death, but as I wait to rest, I have to continue living.
See you on the other side, Mom.