The brain remains alive for a short time after death. According to a new study, brain activity may continue for more than 10 minutes after the body appears to have died.
The body’s cells can survive without oxygen for a few minutes, but after that, they begin to die. The brain is particularly sensitive to a lack of oxygen and can be damaged very quickly if the blood supply is cut off. If a person is not resuscitated within a few minutes of suffering a cardiac arrest, brain death will occur.
However, if a person is on life support and their body is being kept alive artificially, their brain may continue to function for a longer period of time.