Some spiritual traditions say that during this period, the soul adjusts to its departure, observes what is happening around it, and says goodbye to loved ones. But what does science say? Is there any evidence of consciousness after death?
Below, we explore both the spiritual perspective and the most recent scientific findings on what happens in the moments after someone dies.
The “3-day” belief: a spiritual transition
Many traditions teach that the soul needs a transition period before fully separating from the physical body:
In Tibetan Buddhism, there is the concept of the bardo, an intermediate state that can last up to 49 days, with the first few days being crucial for the soul to understand that death has occurred.
In Judaism, it is believed that the soul stays near the body for three days before beginning its journey to the afterlife.
In various Latin American folk beliefs, people say that “the soul doesn’t know it has died” and remains close to the living for a short time, especially in cases of sudden death.
Although symbolic, these interpretations share a common idea: the soul needs time to detach and accept its new state.
What does science say about consciousness after death?
Science cannot address the “soul” as a spiritual entity, but it has begun to study what happens to consciousness and brain activity after cardiac arrest. What researchers have found is surprising:
1. Consciousness may last for several minutes after clinical death
Recent studies show that some people who went into cardiac arrest and were resuscitated clearly remember what happened in those minutes.
They describe seeing their bodies from the outside, hearing voices, or feeling deep peace. Scientists now refer to these events as near-death experiences (NDEs).
2. Brain activity after death
Hospital studies have detected bursts of brain activity even minutes after the heartbeat stops. This suggests that consciousness—or at least some form of perception—may persist beyond the point at which a person is declared clinically dead.
A 2023 study published in Resuscitation analyzed cardiac arrest cases and found that some patients showed a “brain signature associated with conscious perception,” indicating that something occurs in the brain that is not yet fully understood.