near to death episodes: latest study (Endings)

by David Turell , Saturday, October 28, 2017, 15:33 (2581 days ago) @ dhw

DAVID: The area of discussion must remain the human cortex. The time limits I've given are related to postmortem examination of brains which did not survive resuscitation and showed very extensive damage to the cortex, which is very sensitive to oxygen supply. Note, heart stops, unconsciousness in 20 seconds or less. To the best of our knowledge the cortex is where consciousness is conducted.

dhw: But the researchers claim that the patients must have been conscious for a few minutes after what they regarded as clinical death. If the cortex continues to function for 4-6 minutes and is where “consciousness is conducted”, and patients register information for 4-6 minutes, and the information relates to events that occur during the 4-6 minutes after clinical death, the implication is that consciousness does NOT end after 20 seconds or less, and that the cortex is the source of consciousness. Only when the cortex ceases to function, and the patient undergoes experiences that can later be authenticated can we say that we have evidence of dualism.

Sorry you are confused. The cortex stops functioning within 20 seconds, not 4-6 minutes. From my original entry:

"Dr Sam Parnia said: “Technically, that's how you get the time of death – it's all based on the moment when the heart stops.
“'Once that happens, blood no longer circulates to the brain, which means brain function halts almost instantaneously.
“'You lose all your brain stem reflexes – your gag reflex, your pupil reflex, all that is gone.'”

But from what patients tell physicians they are able to experience events around them for the minutes it takes to fully resuscitate them. I've had courses is resuscitation and resuscitated patients. I've had patients tell me abut out of body experiences during surgery. The cortex is the only seat of awareness known, and its not functioning. But consciousness is! Dualism is supported.