There are cases of the brain ceasing and people prounounced clinically dead, only to come back with some very interesting claims. This happens by the millions. Often Doctors and nurses suggest they can almost sense a presence in the air, as though a higher power is at work.
An interesting case, is Dr. Eben Alexander MD Neurosurgeon. The guy himself had a near death experience, he contracted, bacterial meningitis an illness that shuts down the brain, it put him into a coma. Since he should have been a goner, not only did his recovery blow away Doctors around the world, but he was on the front paige of some magazine over it. ( I can't remember which one )
Dr Alexander was an athiest and did not believe in anything of the sort. Being a nerosurgen he like his colleagues are aware of the kind of activities that takes place while in a coma, yet, Dr. Alexander, like millions of other cases, is more than convinced there is consciousness after death after swearing of being in a place that is more real than what we see here.