Identifying neuronal correlates of dying and resuscitation in a model of reversible brain anoxia.
Adrien E Schramm, Antoine Carton-Leclercq, Shana Diallo, Vincent Navarro, Mario Chávez, Séverine Mahon, Stéphane Charpier
Progress in Neurobiology February 1, 2020 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2019.101733 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental animal model Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Rodents |
| Intervention | brain re-oxygenation |
| Topics | Near-death experience |
| Keywords | Brain anoxia Dying Neocortex Neuronal excitability Resuscitation |
| Key findings | The wave-of-death (WoD) is not a biomarker of irremediable death; a novel ECoG wave, the "wave-of-resuscitation," may predict successful recovery after brain anoxia. |
Abstract
We developed a new rodent model of reversible brain anoxia and performed continuous electrocorticographic (ECoG) and intracellular recordings of neocortical neurons to identify in real-time the cellular and network dynamics that successively emerge throughout the dying-to-recovery process. Along with a global decrease in ECoG amplitude, deprivation of oxygen supply resulted in an early surge of beta-gamma activities, accompanied by rhythmic membrane depolarizations and regular firing in pyramidal neurons. ECoG and intracellular signals were then dominated by low-frequency activities which progressively declined towards isoelectric levels. Cortical neurons during the isoelectric state underwent a massive membrane potential depolarizing shift, captured in the ECoG as a large amplitude triphasic wave known as the "wave-of-death" (WoD). This neuronal anoxic depolarization, associated with a block of action potentials and a loss of cell integrative properties, could however be reversed if brain re-oxygenation was rapidly restored (within 2-3.5 min). The subsequent slow repolarization of neocortical neurons resulted in a second identifiable ECoG wave we termed "wave-of-resuscitation" since it inaugurated the progressive regaining of pre-anoxic synaptic and firing activities. These results demonstrate that the WoD is not a biomarker of an irremediable death and unveil the cellular correlates of a novel ECoG wave that may be predictive of a successful recovery. The identification of real-time biomarkers of onset and termination of cell anoxic insult could benefit research on interventional strategies to optimize resuscitation procedures.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on near-death experience, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local field potential changes during euthanasia may parallel with near death experience. Rats | 2025 | Experimental study | |
| Surge of neurophysiological coherence and connectivity in the dying brain. Rats | 2013 | Experimental study |
Citations in the library
Cited by 8
- A neuroscientific model of near-death experiences. Nature Reviews Neurology June 1, 2025
- Between life and death: the brain twilight zones Frontiers in Neuroscience May 15, 2023
- What happens in the brain when we die? Deciphering the neurophysiology of the final moments in life Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience May 9, 2023
- Consciousness and the Dying Brain. Anesthesiology June 1, 2024
- Neuro-functional modeling of near-death experiences in contexts of altered states of consciousness. Frontiers in Psychology 2022
and 3 more in the library
Cites 6
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- Neural Correlates of Consciousness at Near-Electrocerebral Silence in an Asphyxial Cardiac Arrest Model. Brain Connectivity April 1, 2017
- Surge of neurophysiological coherence and connectivity in the dying brain. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences August 27, 2013
- Surges of electroencephalogram activity at the time of death: a case series. Journal of Palliative Medicine December 1, 2009
and 1 more in the library