Terminal lucidity

Terminal lucidity (also known as rallying, terminal rally, the rally, end-of-life-experience, energy surge, the surge, or pre-mortem surge) is an unexpected return of <a href="/facts/Consciousness/IAxmgt6c">consciousness</a>, <a href="/facts/Mental_health/QIszfk6D">mental clarity</a>, or <a href="/facts/Memory/zucwQIEX">memory</a> shortly before death in individuals with severe <a href="/facts/Mental_disorder/EPNjFtFf">psychiatric</a> or <a href="/facts/Neurological_disorder/eQKKs7jX">neurological disorders</a>. It has been reported by physicians since the 19th century. Terminal lucidity is a narrower term than the phenomenon paradoxical lucidity where return of mental clarity can occur anytime (not just before death). However, as of 2025<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Terminal_lucidity&action=edit">[update]</a>, terminal lucidity is not considered a medical term and there is no official consensus on the identifying characteristics.
Terminal lucidity is a poorly understood <a href="/facts/Phenomenon/4CBrlVeW">phenomenon</a> in the context of medical and psychological research, and there is no consensus on what the underlying mechanisms are. It can occur even in cases of severe, irreversible damage or degeneration to the brain, making its existence a challenge to the irreversibility paradigm of degenerative <a href="/facts/Dementia/T0MRDE9I">dementias</a>.
Studying terminal lucidity presents <a href="/facts/Research_ethics/mo8joeTL">ethical challenges</a> due to the need for <a href="/facts/Informed_consent/V1vL4QSj">informed consent</a>. Care providers also face ethical challenges of whether to provide deep sedation, which might limit terminal lucidity, and how to respond to requests for a change in care plans from family members.

Terminal lucidity open-in-new

Terminal lucidity