What happens to awareness after the heart stops beating is a question that has fascinated humanity for centuries. Across many cultures, it’s believed that the soul lingers in the body for up to three days after death. But what does science say?

From a medical perspective, clinical death is defined as the moment when the heart and breathing stop. However, recent studies suggest that consciousness may continue briefly after this point. Some patients who were revived after cardiac arrest reported being aware of their surroundings, hearing voices, or seeing bright lights—despite having no measurable heartbeat or brain activity at the time.

Research has shown that brain cells don’t die immediately. In fact, there may be a small window—lasting seconds to minutes—during which the brain still shows some activity. This raises intriguing questions about the nature of consciousness and whether it may persist in a limited form for a short period following death.

While science has yet to prove or disprove cultural beliefs about the soul’s journey, ongoing studies continue to explore the boundaries between life, death, and consciousness.