Terminal lucidity as memory window

Terminal lucidity (transient cognitive recovery in the hours or days before death) may be a reproducible phenomenon that provides a rare natural experiment on how memories and recognition persist despite catastrophic neuropathology. Systematic, prospective study (pre‑registered protocols, audio/video archives, biomarker panels) could reveal mechanisms of memory access, inform end‑of‑life care, and test whether transient recall is neural rescue, altered network dynamics, or a reporting artifact. — If real and reproducible, terminal lucidity would force reassessment of memory storage models, change protocols for palliative interactions and consent, and require new standards for interpreting anecdotal last‑words in medicine and law.