Brain Death?

[nrw350]

Hey all,

Somehow the topic on what happens to our bodies after death came up today with a friend and myself. He said he saw somewhere that the brain continues to send signals even after biological death, and the those singals continue for up to a month after death. I am wonder if this is true, and how this is possible. I would think that after say one day that the brain would be completely dead.

Nick

[pebbles, BSN, RN]

Originally posted by nrw350

I have no idea. He just said he saw it on TV sometime ago.

Nick

If it was in color, I think that means it's real.... :chuckle

[colleen10]

Maybe he means that even after death the brain continues to send out electrochemical signals and synapses still fire? Not that anything would come of it because the organism is dead and not functioning but that there is still some sort of "energy" floating around in the brain?

One month sounds like a long time for that to keep occuring.

[MQ Edna]

I truly hope this kid is referring to the soul, metaphysical self or whatever. I suppose that the ions could keep trotting around in some of the tissues for awhile, but I wouldn't appreciate having any cognizant brain function and seeing my lid being closed, or feeling the toasty heat of the crematorium :stone .

Now I will have nightmares tonight...

[thisnurse]

if it was on tv or if its on the internet it must be true

[RNIAM, BSN, RN]

I watched a heart keep beating in a pithed frog. Having said that,there may be some truth to some cells remaing alive post death, but I doubt that they could do much of anything. Possible yes,probable I doubt it.

[nrw350]

Originally posted by colleen10

Maybe he means that even after death the brain continues to send out electrochemical signals and synapses still fire? Not that anything would come of it because the organism is dead and not functioning but that there is still some sort of "energy" floating around in the brain?

One month sounds like a long time for that to keep occuring.

I do believe that is what he was referring to. And I agree with it being a rather long time for all this to continue.

Nick

[night owl]

tell nick that when he gets out into the working world that he'll even work with some of these "brain dead" people! :stone :zzzzz

[live4today, RN]

originally posted by night owl

tell nick that when he gets out into the working world that he'll even work with some of these "brain dead" people! :stone :zzzzz

:chuckle :roll :chuckle

[nrw350]

Too late, already dealing with some of them.

Nick

[JMP]

Oxygen and GLUCOSE...... brain needs both to survive. Brain death is just that, a dead brain.

[fedupnurse]

I wish some of our nasty visitors were brain dead! They have been brutal lately. Like your friend, they see something on TV or the internet and decide it is gospel. The latest story is the hormone replacement that the media has completely freaked people out over. If you read the actual study itstates that there are no significant differences between those taking hrt and those not.

Now if you want the brain impaired I think all of us staff people know exactly where to look!!

[NurseGirlKaren]

Heart in pithed frog / brain: different

myocardial cells have automaticity; brain cells don't