Leslie Kean's new Netflix documentary

So after rewatching the first episode, I recall that both Greyson and Fenwick made some points about the brain 'not functioning'. Is this the same thing as brain death? Because as I understand it, they're not meaning that the brain is necessarily completely 'dead', but that the parts relevant associated with ensuring consciousness experience occurs aren't functioning properly e.g. the brainstem. So effectively, they may as well be dead. 

The attention to the Pam Reynolds case was surprising, especially the inclusion of the actual surgeons. I imagine Woerlee is probably furious. But it is a shame they didn't spend more time on Veridical NDEs...like Kimberly Clarke Sharpe's, who was featured in the documentary! 

Interesting that Greyson made the point about how all science began with collecting anecdotes. Granted I feel that's an oversimplification, but he's not technically wrong, especially when it came to investigating phenomena. 

I find it funny how a few complained of there being no mention of DMT...which shows that they didn't pay attention to what Greyson did say about drugs. I think the real shame is that although they do mention some skeptical arguments still used today, they probably didn't explore them enough for some people. But people claiming there wasn't any skepticism are just flat-out lying. 

Fenwick was also charming and funny. I loved the fact he subtlety addressed the deep brain activity argument (I think?) when he talks about those who say 'oh but there's this bit of the brain you might have missed' as misunderstanding consciousness and the assumed requirements for it. 

This comes to the point though that Bruce Greyson makes about flatlining that had me confused. He says after 20 seconds of the heart stopping, you flatline and 'have no brain activity'. But doesn't that depend on whether you're using an ECG or an EEG? I'm hoping he didn't accidentally conflate the terms there.

The brain not functioning is not the same as brain death. According to experts, brain death is the irreversible loss of brain function ie when the component parts of the brain, the various lobes or the brain stem have been too badly damaged for it to work again for whatever reason. 

After a cardiac arrest, the electrical and chemical activity between the neurons disappears (experts tell us) within 10-20 seconds, but if the patient is brought back ie his/her heart is re-started, they may recover their brain function. So although their brains may have been 'dead' at least in regard to their ability to support consciousness, the cells were still viable and there was no physical damage. 

The problem is that the various terms tend to get mixed up and it gets rather confusing. 

ECG is the measurement (from the device named the ECG) of electrical activity in the heart. EEG (from the EEG device) is the measurement in the brain.