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by xprofessor on November 2nd, 2007
Brain cells (neurons) do not have the capacity to grow back once they are dead or irreversibly injured from lack of oxygen. A brain dead patient has lost almost all brain function -- just enough of the brainstem is alive to maintain circulation and breathing. Electrical discharge will do nothing to bring it back.
This is in contrast to cardiac arrest caused by ventricular fibrillation or v. tachycardia, where the heart tissue is still alive but functioning in a dis-coordinated fashion that prevents it from pumping blood. Here an electric shock can reset the normal pacemaker function to get it beating properly again.
There is no comparison.
A report in JAMA some years ago described a medical student who was horsing around with a defibrillator and accidentally discharged the paddles across his temples. He had immediate seizures and was unconscious for a day or two, after which he woke up with significant amnesia. Also, electro-shock therapy for severe depression does something similar to the brain, though in a more controlled fashion. But nothing can revive dead neural tissue.
Is coffee too much of a jolt for the the brain in the morning
if your conscience about protecting it?
by CosmicWunderkind on September 4th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
Why human think topic remains within context (chat for example)?
by AeroDistrictSpoiler on November 16th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
What drugs improve brain function?
by Weylon on October 15th, 2011
| 2 people like this
When your gut brain and your head brain disagree, which one wins most of the time?
by Ombliss22 on November 10th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
When you see a picture of a brain, are you grossed out? Why or why not?
by AnonymousGirl on August 8th, 2011
| 10 people like this
You're reading If someone is brain-dead and a heart paddle is placed on their head, will it jolt the brain back to life? Has it been tried?
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