ScienceDaily (Sep. 10, 2008) — The University of Southampton is

launching the world's largest-ever study of near-death experiences this

week.



The AWARE (AWAreness during REsuscitation) study is to be launched by

the Human Consciousness Project of the University of Southampton - an

international collaboration of scientists and physicians who have joined

forces to study the human brain, consciousness and clinical death.



The study is led by Dr Sam Parnia, an expert in the field of

consciousness during clinical death, together with Dr Peter Fenwick and

Professors Stephen Holgate and Robert Peveler of the University of

Southampton. Following a successful 18-month pilot phase at selected

hospitals in the UK, the study is now being expanded to include other

centres within the UK, mainland Europe and North America.



"Contrary to popular perception," Dr Parnia explains, "death is not a

specific moment. It is a process that begins when the heart stops

beating, the lungs stop working and the brain ceases functioning - a

medical condition termed cardiac arrest, which from a biological

viewpoint is synonymous with clinical death.



"During a cardiac arrest, all three criteria of death are present. There

then follows a period of time, which may last from a few seconds to an

hour or more, in which emergency medical efforts may succeed in

restarting the heart and reversing the dying process. What people

experience during this period of cardiac arrest provides a unique window

of understanding into what we are all likely to experience during the

dying process."



A number of recent scientific studies carried out by independent

researchers have demonstrated that 10-20 per cent of people who go

through cardiac arrest and clinical death report lucid, well structured

thought processes, reasoning, memories and sometimes detailed recall of

events during their encounter with death.



During the AWARE study, doctors will use sophisticated technology to

study the brain and consciousness during cardiac arrest. At the same

time, they will test the validity of out of body experiences and claims

of being able to 'see' and 'hear' during cardiac arrest.



The AWARE study will be complemented by the BRAIN-1 (Brain Resuscitation

Advancement International Network - 1) study, in which the research team

will conduct a variety of physiological tests in cardiac arrest

patients, as well as cerebral monitoring techniques that aim to identify

methods to improve the medical and psychological care of patients who

have undergone cardiac arrest.



Dr Parnia will formally announce the launch of the AWARE study at an

international symposium to be held at the United Nations on September 11.