The Future Of Brain Transplant [Possibilities Without End]

Scientists are at it again to create another milestone achievement in the field of medical science.

As a way of introduction, I'd love to state that brain transplant is the process that involves the replacement of the full or entire human brain with another brain. This is quite different from head transplant; which involves the transplantation of the entire head.

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It is also worthy to note that there has not yet been a recorded case of “fully” successful human brain transplant, but we've seen a similar feat  by Professor Robert J. White (professor of neurology) on monkey.

A very witty statement was made by a team of researchers led by Prof Robert J. White:

Cryogenically frozen human brain will be "activated" and transplanted in recipient's body before the next three years. Prof Robert J. White [Paraphrased by me]

Prof Robert is not really alone in this. While he was busy with his own research, another milestone research was also made by Professor Canavaro (the neuroscientist that proposed to undertake the first human head transplant). I think these researches are pointing to one thing: "There is no limit to human organ transplant".

Procedure for the proposed brain transplant

Could this procedure be seen as life after death? In my opinion, I think it does (technically though). Here's why I said so:

According to Prof Canavaro, he plans to "awaken" the brain from cryostasis (Note: The head that housed the brain has been cryogenically frozen in -320 degrees Fahrenheit). Once he exteriorizes the brain, he will submerge it in liquid nitrogen for the actual "awakening". He also said that he will transplant the brain into a brain-dead moribund, with hopes of bringing the person back from death.

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This could be an answer to one of the questions of bringing humankind back from the dead. But I'm really not sure of this:

Will the procedure transfer the consciousness of the old owner of the brain to the new owner of the brain?

Clearly, there hasn't been a definite answer to this, but scientists believe there would be a transference of memory. If this is so, this could be an amazing way to preserve the memory abilities of amazing humans trans-generationally. Imagine if Albert Einstein's brain had been passed over to newer generations, he'd still be "alive" literally in others today.

Challenges to this procedure

The major challenge to this is the success rate anticipated for this procedure. Though cryogenics and cryostasis are getting more advanced, scientists have not been able to predict correctly the effect of this on human brains when they are stored at sub-zero degree temperature.

Also, complications are anticipated, and the case of rejection could come into play here.

But like I've always said, we live in a world where impossibilities do not exist. Technology is always getting better.

Tech Rules!!

Reference for further reading: Ref1, Ref2, Ref3