Myth 5: Brain Is Alert After Decapitation

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myth_5_decapitation

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Truth: There are contractions for only about 5 seconds

In the 1700’s, decapitation was the choice form of execution. The idea that the brain was still active after beheading came to be when a witness claimed that the beheaded’s eyes turned to look at her. There after, people executed were asked to blink afterwards and witnesses claimed that the blinking would occur for about 30 seconds. Scientists now believe that the witnesses merely witnessed twitches of the muscles and not conscious behavior.

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