Thanks for the info; I probably should have been more precise: shortly before the moment of death. Given, from reports I've read, that anywhere from 1/3 to 1/2 of dying people are conscious at the time of death, I thought there might be something out there regarding loss of senses. (I had always heard it was touch.)
Jean ----- Original Message ----- From: "Don Allen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2001 3:57 PM Subject: Re: dying and loss of senses > Jean- > > Clearly, no one knows for sure because the Ss all died before > they could let us know. > > However, in a > paper presented at APS in Denver a couple of summers ago (sorry, I'm at > home & don't have the reference) the authors reported that when they > played audio tapes to Ss who had been placed under major anesthesia prior > to surgery the Ss had a greater than chance (sometimes 80%) recall of the > words. Since touch was, presumably, suppressed this would indicate that > hearing remained intact longer. However, I know of no comparable studies > examining gustation, olfaction, kinesthesia, etc. so it's a bit premature > to say that audition is the winner. The response from your nursing > students is typical. Medical folk are all told that hearing may be > operational when other senses & motor activity appear to be > absent. Surgeons, for example, are always told never to say, > "Oops!" during an operation. I don't know whether this tradition is based > on on science or folklore, but it is certainly practiced by all of the > medical folk that I know. > > Hope that helps, > > -Don. > > On Tue, 18 Dec 2001, J L Edwards wrote: > > > Hello all... > > > > In my developmental psych class, a student asked a question concerning > > dying: which of the senses is the last one to go? I threw the question out > > to the class. Many said the sense of touch is the last remaining sense. All > > of my nursing majors said they were told the sense of hearing. Anyone out > > there know? > > > > Jean Edwards > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] (home for the holidays...woo hoo) > > > > > > > > > > --- > > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > ******************************************************************** > Don Allen email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Dept. of Psychology voice: (604)-323-5871 > Langara College fax: (604)-323-5555 > 100 W. 49th Ave. > Vancouver, B.C. > Canada, V5Y 2Z6 > ******************************************************************** > > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
