Scientists say they have come closer to unraveling the mystery of what happens to the brain of a person in a coma at the time of death. Researchers say they were able to capture 'conscious' activity, reports The Guardian.

Near-death survivors report seeing a bright light at the end of a tunnel, feeling the presence of their loved ones, or hovering above their bodies..

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“How a dysfunctional brain can generate vivid experiences in the process of dying is a paradox in neuroscience.”. We saw potential neurosignatures of consciousness, ”said Jimo Borjigin, leader of the team of scientists from the University of Michigan..

During the study, scientists studied the data of four patients who died in the hospital.. Their brain activity was measured using an EEG because they had previously suspected seizures.. All four patients were in a coma and did not respond to external influences.. With the permission of their families, the doctors turned off life support and they subsequently went into cardiac arrest and died..

Scientists analyzed data on brain activity from the moment of termination of life support to the moment of death of patients. After turning off ventilator support, two patients experienced an increase in heart rate along with a spike in gamma wave activity, which is considered the fastest brain activity and is associated with consciousness..

Borjigin suggests that this may correspond to an "

The activity was found in the so-called hot zone, an area at the back of the brain associated with conscious activity.. This area correlates with dreams, visual hallucinations in epilepsy, and altered states of consciousness..

The other two patients did not show such activity..

According to scientists, it is impossible to determine what this activity means in terms of subjective perception.. “It could be an activation of inner hidden consciousness, awakening memories of the past, it could be a brain survival mechanism, we don’t know,” Borjigin said..

Earlier it became known that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rejected the application of Elon Musk's Neuralink company to test brain implants in humans.. They said that the company must fix a number of problems before it can start testing on patients..