What happens in the last moments of our lives?

It turns out that the last sense to leave us at the end of life isn’t touch, taste, or sight…it’s sound.

We hope our loved ones can still sense us when we’re by their side. We want them to feel accompanied and that they’re not alone. However, often we don’t see any signs that they’re aware of us.

They’re losing their connection to this world. But not all senses are lost at the same time. Even when other senses and bodily functions stop, hearing remains the final bridge between the dying person and their surroundings.

If there’s anything you should remember from this article, it’s this: we should continue communicating with our loved ones until the very end.

In this following study, the scientific observation becomes more profound than ever, almost spiritual. Science can bring some comfort to those who are passing and to those who remain by their side.

The plot twist in our understanding of death’s doorstep

The brain has piloted us through the wonders of life. But at the end of this journey, things start to crumble. We’re unsure what remains functional when we reach that last voyage.

Not anymore.

Now scientists have revealed that the brain still tunes into the radio waves of the world at the end of its life. And it’s not just a poetic gesture, it’s backed by data.

In a study conducted at the University of British Columbia, researchers opened the door to understanding our last moments of sensory connection to the world. Researchers discovered that even when the world assumes we’re no longer home (i.e. unresponsive), our brain is still reacting to sounds around us.

They hooked 8 hospice patients to brainwave readers (i.e. EEG) to see how they reacted to different sounds while they were still responsive. They would do the same procedure once those same patients couldn’t respond anymore. There were two types of sounds in this five-tone auditory pattern:

• Change runs: one of those tones was of a different frequency than the others.

• Flat runs: all tones in the sequence were of the same frequency.

The idea was to see if the brain notices something unexpected (i.e. the change run pattern) in a familiar pattern (i.e. flat runs).

Can the brain not just hear but also detect these changes?

In other words, was the brain hearing just noises or actually listening and understanding patterns?

Researchers found that not only did patients detect these sound changes while they were still conscious, but also when they were unresponsive. They experienced both global and local responses to these unexpected changes in sound patterns.

This means that their brains were still capable of processing sounds at both a basic, automatic level and a more conscious, attentive level. In other words, hearing and some level of auditory attention still happen even in states of deep unresponsiveness near the end of life.

Why does this matter?

If the patient’s brain is still in the game, processing sounds just hours before passing away, there’s still time to communicate with them.

Talking to our loved ones even when they seem out of it could still mean something. Thus, saying the things you couldn’t say before might be more meaningful than you think.

Don’t let this opportunity pass, it’s your last chance.

You can still connect with your loved ones in their last moments. You can provide comfort to them on their final journey with your voice, soothing melodies, or simply with your presence.

Consider the importance of being there, of speaking, of connecting, right up to the end. In our hyper-digital, often disconnected world, our presence, our voice, can be the most comforting gift we offer someone as they transition into the afterlife.

Final thoughts

There’s still a lot to learn about the brain’s resilience and awareness at the end of life.

This study shows that the brain is still working, even when people can’t show any outward signs of awareness.

If you find yourself in this spot with a loved one remember to keep talking and keep connecting with them, because they’ll still respond to the magic of sound waves.

Isn’t that connection what it’s all about?

Being heard (i.e. being loved), as we step into the great unknown.

Hearing holds till the very end so make the best out of it.