Postmortem communication.

Near-death and dying experiences are subjective and have not been objectively evaluated. While postmortem gene expression has been studied in humans, restoration of postmortem brain activity has only been attempted in animal models at molecular and cellular levels. Technologies that translate living human brain activity into speech and images are advancing. This paper proposes two thought experiments: first, whether these technologies could be used on dying humans to obtain an objective analysis of death experiences; second, whether human brain function could be revived postmortem to enable communication with the recently deceased. The implications of these possibilities are explored.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The phenomenon of near death and dying experiences has been both of popular interest and of scientific speculation. However, the reality of mental perception at the point of death is currently a subjective experience and has not been formally evaluated. While postmortem gene expression, even in humans, has been evaluated, restoration of postmortem brain activity has heretofore only been attempted in animal models, at the molecular and cellular levels. Meanwhile, progress has been made to translate brain activity of living humans into speech and images. This paper proposes two inter-related thought experiments. First, assuming progress and refinement of the technology of translating human brain activity into interpretable speech and images, can an objective analysis of death experiences be obtained by utilizing these technologies on dying humans? Second, can human brain function be revived postmortem and, if so, can the relevant technologies be utilized for communication with (recently) deceased individuals? In this paper, these questions are considered and possible implications explored.