From my own personal experience with things similar to the life flashing before my eyes, I come up with a montage ( a technique which uses rapid editing, special effects and music to present compressed narrative information) as the closest comparative.

I am not trying to downplay anyone's experience. I think when something like this happens to someone, it gives them some feeling of having a special story, and that brings some pride in the story itself. What I remember, when honestly reviewing something like the life flashing thing, is short sequences flashing by rapidly giving a hint at many portions of life, but lacking any detail. exactly like a movie montage.

You may see a image of your grade school and you playing with an old friend, then an image of loading the car to move away from that school and friend, followed by an image of the first day at your new school.

I hate to down play it, but that is what my own experience causes me to think. I believe when someone experiences something like this, they do not want it reduced or made less special, but in the end, if they are honest, I think it was just brief flashes, not reliving their whole lives.