of the fact that we exist and our memory defines who were in the past and is the cause of recognizing who we are in the present.
Current neuro-research, although not understanding all of the details of these brain functions yet, has established, by studying the effect of brain failures, mental defects and injuries, that our awareness are indeed the result of the electrical/chemical reactions in the brain. Neurotransmitters such as Dopamine, Amphetamine, Histamine to name a few, all have a role to play in the biological structure of the brain.
Awareness and consciousness are observable in animals as well, but humans have a much greater capacity for memory storage, which not only sets us apart but also defines us who we are as individuals. In brain damaged people, who have lost their past memory, and suffer from total amnesia, do not remember who they are and therefor start the awareness of self on a totally new basis. The old self is dead. Other injuries have shown that the loss of other functions is purely caused by the failure of certain parts of the brain. Even memory is not always reliable. Fake memories, which can be caused by confabulation (http://skepdic.com/confab.html ) or even induced on purpose, (Roediger and Mc Dermot 1995 experiments) are caused by alterations in the of the brain structures that govern and retains memories.
Alzheimer’s disease is an observable condition showing that, because of malfunction of the brain, access to memories or memories itself can be impaired. Memory itself is not reliable. According to Hugo Munsterberg, forensic psychologist and confirmed by many other psychologists, eyewitness accounts have had the results of many innocent persons being convicted of crimes an spent many years in jail or where executed.
What are the conclusions to be drawn. Based on scientific knowledge, obtained by observation and many, many research experiments, is that our awareness, consciousness and memories are strictly electrical/ chemical brain functions which fail, when the brain fails. It is this new knowledge, which establishes as a FACT that when the brain dies, the sense of who we are, dies with it. Better face it. Speculation about transforming the chemical/electrical information into another mystical form has NO basis in reality but is pure speculation and therefor has to be ignored. Wishful thinking is not reality. What it means is that the self, slowly formed when the brain formed in the fetus, will die when that brain dies. It doesn’t matter whether there is an afterlife, containing a God, Heaven or Hell, you will not be aware of it. So enjoy the only chance you have to enjoy your short journey in this marvelous universe and shed the fear of going to Hell or wait for your reward (72 virgins?) in Heaven. Be good, and do onto others what you want them to do for you.