Lucid Dying: Exploring Brain and Consciousness at the End of Life

Event Description:

Register for the Zoom webinar:

https://nyulangone.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hFPx9sFqTwKQmHiYjYe3Lg

Alternate Description:

What happens to our brain, mind, and consciousness as we die? While a lot remains unknown about death, our understanding of this subject has evolved greatly in recent years. Death is the only experience that is guaranteed to every human being, and yet, the end of life is also one of life’s great mysteries. Research that seeks to illuminate the complex processes surrounding death in the brain, body, mind, and consciousness has wide-reaching implications for neuroscience, medicine, psychology, and philosophy.

One area that is currently being investigated by researchers relates to episodes of lucidity in those nearing death. This includes terminally ill patients with advanced, severe dementia and those who have transiently crossed beyond the biological threshold of death, during cardiac arrest. Researchers intrigued by this phenomena are trying to better understand how it may be possible for people to experience such episodes of lucidity and to identify specific markers for this phenomenon. Importantly, they are also trying to find out whether such episodes can lead to novel treatments for debilitating neurodegenerative disorders such as dementia, while also studying how these recalled experiences surrounding death are informing our understanding of what happens to us all at the end of life.

This panel discussion will bring together leading physicians and researchers, including Dr. Lindsey Gurin, assistant professor of neurology and psychiatry, with expertise in neuro-rehabilitation at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Dr. Megan Craig, associate professor of philosophy and art at Stony Brook University, with an interest in the mind-body problem, Dr. Anthony Bossis, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry, conducting psychedelic research at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Dr. Donald Hoffman, professor of cognitive science, studying consciousness at University of California, Irvine, and Dr. Sam Parnia, associate professor of medicine and director of Critical Care and Resuscitation Research at NYU Langone Health, dedicating his research to improving resuscitation techniques and understanding what happens to the human mind during and after cardiac arrest.

The panel will explore the current scientific discoveries regarding our understanding of death. In particular, they will review the impact of recent discoveries related to the brain and consciousness that have wide ranging implications for society.