Get some head...

[WillBrink]

Sci fi, closer to reality. I’m not that excited about a head transplant. A brain transplant, now that would be amazing, and no doubt, something that will be feasible in the not too distance future.

First-ever human head transplant is now possible, says neuroscientist

Technical barriers to grafting one person’s head onto another person’s body can now be overcome, says Dr. Sergio Canavero, a member of the Turin Advanced Neuromodulation Group. In a recent paper, Canavero outlines a procedure modeled on successful head transplants which have been carried out in animals since 1970.

The one problem with these transplants was that scientists were unable to connect the animals’ spinal cords to their donor bodies, leaving them paralyzed below the point of transplant. But, says Canavero, recent advances in re-connecting spinal cords that are surgically severed mean that it should be technically feasible to do it in humans. (This is not the same as restoring nervous system function to quadriplegics or other victims of traumatic spinal cord injury.)

As Canavero notes in his paper:

“The greatest technical hurdle to [a head transplant] is of course the reconnection of the donor’s (D)’s and recipients (R)’s spinal cords. It is my contention that the technology only now exists for such linkage…. [S]everal up to now hopeless medical connections might benefit from such a procedure.”

The procedure Canavero outlines is very much like that used by Robert White, who successfully transplanted the head of a rhesus monkey onto the body of a second rhesus in 1970. First, both patients must be in the same operating theater. Then the head to be transplanted must be cooled to between 12°C and 15°C (54.6°F and 59°F). Moving quickly, surgeons must remove both heads at the same time, and re-connect the head to be preserved to the circulatory system of the donor body within one hour. During the reconnection procedure, the donor body must also be chilled, and total cardiac arrest must be induced.

Once the head is reconnected, the heart of the donor body can be re-started, and surgeons can proceed to the re-connections of other vital systems, including the spinal cord.

More info with some interesting photos, etc:

http://qz.com/99413/first-ever-human-head-transplant-is-now-possible-says-neuroscientist/

[Skyyr]

Isn’t a head transplant the same thing as a body transplant? And what would the identity of the person be after said procedure? Is it the head that carries the person’s identity? Or the body? At what point does it constitute the same person vs. becoming a new person?

I’m all for medical advances, but there comes a point when I think it modern medicine comes into direct conflict with the sanctity of life.

[Vash1023]

@Skyyr

Isn’t a head transplant the same thing as a body transplant? And what would the identity of the person be after said procedure? Is it the head that carries the person’s identity? Or the body? At what point does it constitute the same person vs. becoming a new person?

I’m all for medical advances, but there comes a point when I think it modern medicine comes into direct conflict with the sanctity of life.

identity will always follow the brain… but once religion gets involved there will be arguments over the location of the “soul”

anyway this is great news, walt disney can now live again.lol

but seriously, awesome to hear. soon we can all be cyborgs… resistance if futile…

[Moose-Knuckle]

Coming to a future near you . . .

[THCDDM4]

The singularity is coming.

[halo2304]

With Obamacare, I wouldn’t be surprised if THIS happened.

[Peshawar]

Thatssss greaaaat neeeewwss…

[jpmuscle]

Don’t the medical sciences have more important things to be focusing on? Or am I missing something obvious here…

[SteyrAUG]

@jpmuscle

Don’t the medical sciences have more important things to be focusing on? Or am I missing something obvious here…

I dunno, I think this is right up there on the “Important Science Stuff” list.

That said…

:laugh:

[High_Tower]

@jpmuscle

Don’t the medical sciences have more important things to be focusing on? Or am I missing something obvious here…

What are you talking about? With modern medicine, we can cure all forms of cancer, CF, MS, and a whole lot of oth…oh wait, yeah you’re right

[SteyrAUG]

@High_Tower

What are you talking about? With modern medicine, we can cure all forms of cancer, CF, MS, and a whole lot of oth…oh wait, yeah you’re right

Just because we don’t have a cure for cancer doesn’t mean we don’t work on advancement of the things we can do. Should we have never done heart transplant research because we didn’t have a cure for cancer?

Furthermore, science isn’t (and shouldn’t be) a single focus entity with dictated goals. And while we may question the value of some research areas, you can take comfort in the fact that people doing research in the area of what aliens on Planet X might look like probably aren’t taking focus away from their ability to find a cure for cancer.

[High_Tower]

That’s not what I was saying. I just think that the money used to research transplanting heads could be used for more beneficial reasons. Bringing Walt Disney back to life is not one of them in my opinion.

While I have stayed at a Holiday Inn, I am not an expert in this matter. I could be educated though. Perhaps this has enlightened the good doctors on neuro sugery or other actually useful areas?

[SteyrAUG]

@High_Tower

That’s not what I was saying. I just think that the money used to research transplanting heads could be used for more beneficial reasons. Bringing Walt Disney back to life is not one of them in my opinion.

While I have stayed at a Holiday Inn, I am not an expert in this matter. I could be educated though. Perhaps this has enlightened the good doctors on neuro sugery or other actually useful areas?

I think the knowledge and experience from such things as actual head transplants will pay dividends when it comes to less dramatic procedures.

Basically we are approaching the point where you could literally cut off a person’s head and still save them. I think that is pretty impressive.

I think making withdraws from the cryo bank are still years down the road.

[Grand58742]

@High_Tower

That’s not what I was saying. I just think that the money used to research transplanting heads could be used for more beneficial reasons. Bringing Walt Disney back to life is not one of them in my opinion.

While I have stayed at a Holiday Inn, I am not an expert in this matter. I could be educated though. Perhaps this has enlightened the good doctors on neuro sugery or other actually useful areas?

I’m looking at it from the CNS research perspective. If they can find a way of reattaching the spinal cord to the brain and get the two working with the remainder of the body, think about the possibilities for para and quadriplegics. If you can do it in a transplant subject, there is that possibility for being able to do it without transplants. Repairing damaged spinal cords and getting them functioning once again is something that has endless possibilities.

I’m not an expert either, but I think this kind of research needs to be done. How many people are paralyzed each year by accidents that could benefit from studies that may branch out from this?

[High_Tower]

@SteyrAUG

I think the knowledge and experience from such things as actual head transplants will pay dividends when it comes to less dramatic procedures.

Basically we are approaching the point where you could literally cut off a person’s head and still save them. I think that is pretty impressive.

I think making withdraws from the cryo bank are still years down the road.

@Grand58742

I’m looking at it from the CNS research perspective. If they can find a way of reattaching the spinal cord to the brain and get the two working with the remainder of the body, think about the possibilities for para and quadriplegics. If you can do it in a transplant subject, there is that possibility for being able to do it without transplants. Repairing damaged spinal cords and getting them functioning once again is something that has endless possibilities.

I’m not an expert either, but I think this kind of research needs to be done. How many people are paralyzed each year by accidents that could benefit from studies that may branch out from this?

I’m good with this if they are learning all that good stuff. But it should be explained better. I’m not against medical research and am even OK with using tax money to do it. Buuuut, they do waste a lot of grant money on weird shit.

Caveat - I did not click on the links as I have to use the niprnet and a computer made in 1813 (give or take - I think I see Alexander Hamilton’s signature on it.) Either the pages don’t load or they block the website so I don’t even try anymore. Thusly, I may have missed some info.

[Alpha_Sierra]

@Grand58742

I’m looking at it from the CNS research perspective. If they can find a way of reattaching the spinal cord to the brain and get the two working with the remainder of the body, think about the possibilities for para and quadriplegics. If you can do it in a transplant subject, there is that possibility for being able to do it without transplants. Repairing damaged spinal cords and getting them functioning once again is something that has endless possibilities.

I’m not an expert either, but I think this kind of research needs to be done. How many people are paralyzed each year by accidents that could benefit from studies that may branch out from this?

This is exactly what I had in mind when I read the OP. As someone who’s witnessed a fellow rider going from fully functioning to a barely breathing paraplegic in a split second, I can appreciate the implications of this research.

[montanadave]

@jpmuscle

Don’t the medical sciences have more important things to be focusing on? Or am I missing something obvious here…

Yeah, what about penis transplants?

Not that I’m in the market, mind you.

I’m actually more donor material, even after the reduction.