Link to full AWARE-II paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science...

Survivors of cardiac arrest have long reported having heightened awareness and powerful, lucid experiences. These have included a perception of separation from the body, observing events without pain or distress, and a meaningful evaluation of their actions and relationships. The AWARE-II study found these experiences of death to be different from hallucinations, delusions, illusions, dreams, or CPR-induced consciousness.

We hypothesize that the “flatlined,” dying brain removes natural inhibitory (braking) systems. These processes, known collectively as disinhibition, may open access to new dimensions of reality. While no one knows the evolutionary purpose of this phenomenon, it opens the door to a systematic exploration of what happens when a person dies.