They discover the pathway of the death brainwave and know how to “reverse” it.

A team of scientists from Paris Brain Institute managed to unravel the formation wave of death This is a large brain wave that is generated immediately after a situation of lack of oxygen in the brain, when the so-called flat encephalogram. The existence of this wave has been known for a long time. It is even known that the situation can be reversible. However, it was unknown how it is formed and in what order it affects different areas cortex. Now these researchers have managed to unravel the mystery.

This is very useful because by knowing which areas are most affected by the death wave, you can strengthen neuroprotection in these areas. Does this mean you can raise the dead? Unfortunately no.

The wave of death arises in response to stopping the supply of oxygen to brain cells. By reintroducing oxygen and reversing the wave, the brain damage that results from a near-death situation can be prevented. However, if there is still no oxygen supply, death is inevitable. However, what these researchers found is still great news.

Origin of the Death Wave

When the oxygen supply to the brain is cut off, fuel for cells known as THX, exhausted. This fuel is used to carry out its electrical functions Right. Therefore, in its absence, the electrical balance of neurons is disrupted. It would be something like a blackout in the home’s electrical system. Just as many buildings have emergency electrical systems, our brains at this moment trigger a massive surge of energy. glutamate. It is an excitatory neurotransmitter that remains active up to a certain point, but is eventually depleted if ATP is not returned to the cells.

Therefore, if we analyze the electrical activity of the brain, we will first see a sudden drop, then an intense peak of activity, and then a final shutdown. During this peak of activity, which is facilitated by glutamate, the famous near death experiences. And upon final shutdown, a flat encephalogram is obtained.

After a flat encephalogram cell depolarization, through which a wave known as death is generated. It travels through the entire cerebral cortex, causing its neurons to die because they can no longer continue to communicate with each other. All this is well known. But what was unknown until now was which areas were hit hardest by the wave. For these scientists, knowing this was vital, as they explain in their statement. “We had yet to understand which areas of the brain might be hit by the death wave.” more damage to preserve brain function as much as possible.”

How did they discover this?

To trace the path of the death wave, these scientists conducted experiments on rats, subjecting them to recordings of their brain activity and measurements of electrical impulses in the brain.

They took measurements before and after the neuronal depolarization associated with the death wave. And they saw what caught his attention.

“We realized that neuronal activity was relatively uniform at the onset of cerebral anoxia. The death wave then arose in the pyramidal neurons located in the fifth layer of the neocortex and spread in two directions: upward, i.e., to the surface of the brain, and downward, i.e., to the white matter. “We observed these same dynamics in a variety of experimental conditions and believe they may exist in humans as well.”

Severin Mahon, neuroscientist and author of the study.

If so, it would mean that the deepest layers of the earth’s crust are most vulnerable to oxygen starvation. This may be because they have very high energy needs, so they suffer more from the effects of fuel loss.

Is it possible to restore it?

In the second part of the experiment, the researchers restored the oxygen supply to the brain. Soon the cells returned to replenish your ATP reserves and, little by little, electrical activity.

Here, if the same thing happens to people, two things can happen. That there was no damage or that some areas of the brain were damaged in the process. That’s why it’s so important to know How does the wave of death work?

Scientists hope that if this is extrapolated to humans, it will be possible to synthesize neuroprotectors that target these people. areas of the brain that are most sensitive. This way, in the event of cardiac arrest, for example, the death wave cannot destroy the brain and leave consequences even if the patient returns. heartbeat.

That’s what this study is about. This is not about resurrecting the dead, but about improving the quality of life of those who for some reason were close to death.