I was reading about the Reign of Terror period in France i read that some of the heads cut off by the Guillotine moved their lips, moved their eyes and blinked. Is this just a hoax or is it true?
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Pretty much when you remove the head, the person is considered 100% dead.
It's probably true that there will be some muscle activity, but that is not necessarily coming from the brain. Brain cells start to die after a few minutes without oxygen, so there may be some neurons firing in the brain immediately following decapitation, but only for a few moments. It is probably a lot like when you pass out.
Don't listen to Sisyphus. It may be random nerve activity, or not. It may be lower motor neuron activity or not. There is no way to know unless you cut off monkey's heads and monitor the brainstem.
It's probably true that there will be some muscle activity, but that is not necessarily coming from the brain. Brain cells start to die after a few minutes without oxygen, so there may be some neurons firing in the brain immediately following decapitation, but only for a few moments. It is probably a lot like when you pass out.
Don't listen to Sisyphus. It may be random nerve activity, or not. It may be lower motor neuron activity or not. There is no way to know unless you cut off monkey's heads and monitor the brainstem.
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The physical movement stuff is probably a hoax. However, neuroscientists are currently unsure as to when death actually occurs, whether it's when the heart stops, or when the brain ceases to function or all of your brain cells die or perhaps when your muscles deteriorate, it's unsure. So it's possible you'd be 'alive' after having your head taken off. I mean, you're not going to be conscious and talking stuff, but you could still be alive, technically.
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NO!!!!!!!
Random nerve firing is NOT life!
Random nerve firing is NOT life!