The idea that the soul remains in the body for three days after death is an ancient belief, present in various cultures and religions. Some spiritual traditions claim that during this time, the soul adjusts to its departure, observes what is happening around it, and says goodbye to its loved ones. But what does science say about this? Is there any evidence of consciousness after death?
Next, we explore both the spiritual perspective and the latest scientific findings on what happens in the moments after death.
The belief of the “3 days”: a spiritual transition
Many traditions hold that the soul needs a transition period to completely detach itself from the physical body:
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In Tibetan Buddhism , there is talk of the bardo , an intermediate state that can last up to 49 days, but where the first few days are crucial for the soul to understand that it has died.
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In Judaism , it is believed that the soul lingers around the body for three days before beginning its journey to the afterlife.
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In some Latin American folk beliefs, it is said that “the soul does not know that it has died” and remains close to the living for a short time, especially if there was a sudden death.
These interpretations, although symbolic, have one thing in common: the soul needs time to detach itself and accept its new state .
And what does science say about consciousness after death?
Science cannot speak of the “soul” as a spiritual entity, but it has begun to study what happens to consciousness and brain activity after cardiac arrest. What they have discovered is surprising:
1. Consciousness can last for a few minutes after clinical death
Recent studies have shown that some people who have suffered cardiac arrest and been resuscitated clearly remember what happened during those minutes. They report seeing their body from the outside, hearing voices, or feeling a great peace. Science has begun to refer to this as near-death experiences (NDEs) .
2. Brain activity after death
Research conducted in hospitals has detected flashes of brain activity even minutes after the cessation of a heartbeat . This suggests that consciousness, or at least some form of perception, may persist beyond the point at which a person is considered clinically dead.
A 2023 study published in Resuscitation analyzed cases of cardiac arrest and concluded that, in some patients, a “brain signature associated with conscious perception” was recorded , suggesting that something is happening in the brain that is not yet fully understood.
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