On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti Brainwaves: What happens between life and death?
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Feb 12, 2026 Jimo Borjigin, neuroscientist studying EEG and animal models of dying brains. Charlotte Marciel, researcher with a 2,000-case database on near-death reports. They explore brain activity moments after cardiac arrest, neurochemical surges and visual cortex activation, cultural differences in NDE narratives, and how unresponsive brains can still process sights and sounds.
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NDEs Can Occur Without Imminent Death
- Near-death–style experiences can occur without life threat during fever, anxiety, or body disconnection.
- So similar phenomenology doesn't always require a true clinical close-to-death state.
Two Minutes Lost, No Vision
- Jim from Sioux City collapsed on a field trip and his heart stopped for about two minutes before restarting.
- He reported no transcendent experience, just a lost two minutes like falling asleep.
Large NDE Database Exists
- Charlotte Marciel has a database of over 2,000 near-death reports collected over 11 years combining narratives and questionnaires.
- Her work tracks immediate and long-term effects on belief and life choices.