Non-Invasive Detection and Preservation of Neurocognitive Signals in the Peri-Death Period Using Brain-Computer Interface and Artificial Intelligence (NeuroCogPresv)

Feasibility of Non-Invasive Detection and Preservation of Neurocognitive Signals in the Peri-Death Period Using Brain-Computer Interface and Artificial Intelligence: A Prospective Observational Study (NeuroCogPresv)

Background: Recent electroencephalography (EEG) data indicate that the transition from clinical death to cellular death is marked by highly organized neurophysiological events, including significant surges in gamma-band power, cross-frequency coupling, and distinct spreading depolarization waves. This prospective, observational feasibility study utilizes rapid-deployment, high-density, noninvasive BCI hardware paired with proprietary AI analytics to detect, classify, and securely archive these terminal neurocognitive signals.

Objectives: (1) Quantify transient gamma-band activity and cross-frequency connectivity post-clinical death; (2) Validate the efficacy of machine learning models for real-time signal classification in high-noise clinical environments; (3) Establish a highly secure, encrypted bio-informational archive of peri-life EEG data.

Design: Prospective, open-label, multicenter, observational cohort (n>20).

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Death; Brain Death; Terminal Illness; Cognition; Electroencephalography; Memory; EEG; Cognitive; Consciousness; Death Anxiety; Gamma Oscillations; End-of-Life Care; Near-Death Phenomena; Severe Acute Trauma

Detailed Description

This prospective observational feasibility study will use non-invasive high-density EEG combined with a wireless brain-computer interface (BCI) and artificial intelligence analytics to detect, characterize, and archive neurocognitive signals in adult patients during the peri-death period. The study includes individuals with terminal illness or severe acute trauma who have a do-not-resuscitate (DNR/DNI) order. Building on recent human findings of gamma oscillation surges and cross-frequency coupling (Vicente et al., 2022; Xu et al., 2023), the study aims to quantify these signals, test AI-driven real-time classification, and explore technical feasibility for future signal preservation and continuity research. No therapeutic intervention is performed. All monitoring is conducted with surrogate consent under strict ethical oversight.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 20

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Dr. Wallace Lynch, Ph.D.; Phone Number: 6504895808; Email: info@noahtech.life

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Adults (≥18 years) with terminal illness or severe acute trauma who have a do-not-resuscitate (DNR/DNI) order and for whom a legally authorized surrogate has provided informed consent. Participants are recruited from hospice, palliative care units, and intensive care units at three U.S. academic medical centers. The study focuses on individuals with physician-estimated survival of 7 days or less. All participants receive continuous non-invasive EEG/BCI monitoring during the peri-death period.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Adults ≥18 years with terminal illness or severe acute trauma
2. Do-not-resuscitate (DNR/DNI) order in place
3. Surrogate decision-maker available and willing to provide informed consent
4. Expected survival ≤7 days (physician estimate)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Brain death already declared > 24 hours prior to enrollment
2. Contraindication to EEG/BCI headset placement (e.g., severe scalp injury)
3. Patient lacks a legally authorized representative

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Peri-Death Cohort; Adults (≥18 years) with terminal illness or severe acute trauma who have a do-not-resuscitate (DNR/DNI) order and for whom surrogate informed consent has been obtained. Participants undergo continuous non-invasive high-density EEG monitoring using a wireless brain-computer interface (BCI) headset. Monitoring begins prior to expected clinical death and continues for up to 6 hours after cardiac arrest. This single prospective cohort is followed to characterize neurocognitive signals during the transition from clinical death through brain death to cellular death. No study intervention is administered.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Detection of Neurocognitive Signals After Clinical Death Prior to Brain Death	Presence or absence of organized neurocognitive signals and measurable brain activity, as recorded by non-invasive high-density electroencephalography (EEG), in the human brain during the period immediately following clinical death (cessation of circulation) but prior to declaration of brain death. The primary outcome will be reported as the proportion of participants with detectable organized neural activity (yes/no) meeting predefined signal thresholds.	0-120 minutes after clinical death

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Successful Capture and Preservation of Neurocognitive Signals	Proportion of participants for whom real-time neurocognitive signals were successfully captured, recorded in high quality, and securely preserved for long-term storage using non-invasive high-density EEG and wireless brain-computer interface (BCI) technology. Reported as the number and percentage of participants with complete, artifact-free recordings suitable for analysis.	Up to 24 hours after clinical death
Spectral Power of Neurocognitive Signals	Quantitative analysis of spectral power of captured neurocognitive signals, measured in microvolts squared per hertz (µV²/Hz), across standard EEG frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, beta, gamma).	Up to 24 hours after clinical death
Functional Connectivity Patterns	Quantitative analysis of functional connectivity patterns among brain regions, measured using coherence and phase-locking value (PLV) indices, reported on a scale from 0 (no connectivity) to 1 (perfect connectivity).	Up to 24 hours after clinical death
Cross-Frequency Coupling	Quantitative analysis of cross-frequency coupling between EEG frequency bands, measured using the modulation index (MI), reported as a unitless value ranging from 0 (no coupling) to 1 (maximum coupling).	Up to 24 hours after clinical death
Temporal Dynamics of Neurocognitive Signals	Quantitative analysis of the temporal dynamics of neurocognitive signals, including signal duration and onset latency, measured in seconds (s) from the time of clinical death.	Up to 24 hours after clinical death
Informational Content of Neurocognitive Signals	Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the potential informational content of captured neurocognitive signals, measured using permutation entropy, reported as a unitless value on a scale from 0 (completely regular/predictable) to 1 (completely random).	Up to 24 hours after clinical death

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Noah Tech, Corp.
• Collaborators: Columbia University; City of Hope Medical Center; Stanford University; Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Zinn S, et al. Parametrization of the dying brain: A case report from ICU bed-side EEG monitoring. NeuroImage. 2025;305:120980.
• Blundon EG, Gallagher RE, Ward LM. Electrophysiological evidence of preserved hearing at the end of life. Sci Rep. 2020 Jun 25;10(1):10336. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-67234-9.
• Xu G, Mihaylova T, Li D, Tian F, Farrehi PM, Parent JM, Mashour GA, Wang MM, Borjigin J. Surge of neurophysiological coupling and connectivity of gamma oscillations in the dying human brain. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2023 May 9;120(19):e2216268120. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2216268120. Epub 2023 May 1.
• Vicente R, Rizzuto M, Sarica C, Yamamoto K, Sadr M, Khajuria T, Fatehi M, Moien-Afshari F, Haw CS, Llinas RR, Lozano AM, Neimat JS, Zemmar A. Enhanced Interplay of Neuronal Coherence and Coupling in the Dying Human Brain. Front Aging Neurosci. 2022 Feb 22;14:813531. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.813531. eCollection 2022.

Helpful Links

• NoahTech Corp. Official Sponsor Website
• ClinicalTrials.gov Study Record

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 30, 2030
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 30, 2035

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 6, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 12, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): March 17, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 17, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 12, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Memory; Cognition; Transfer; AI; Death; Consciousness; Brain Computer Interface; Life; BCI; Brain death; Gamma Oscillations; Life experience; Pefi-death; Reservation; Convergence
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neurologic Manifestations; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Pathologic Processes; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Consciousness Disorders; Unconsciousness; Coma; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Death; Brain Death; Necrophobia
• Other Study ID Numbers: NeuroCogConPres-NoahTech

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: De-identified raw EEG data, AI-processed neurocognitive signal files, and limited demographic information will be made available to qualified researchers upon reasonable request. Data will be shared via a secure, public repository (e.g., Zenodo or NIH-compliant platform) to support future research on consciousness and neurocognitive activity in the peri-death period.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: Data will become available beginning 12 months after the primary completion date and will remain available for a period of 5 years.
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Qualified scientific researchers with an IRB-approved research proposal and relevant scientific background. All requests will be reviewed and approved by the study sponsor (NoahTech Corp.) and the responsible IRB. Access will be granted through a secure data-sharing platform after execution of a data use agreement.
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; SAP; ICF

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No