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Is Transplanting a Human Head Possible?

Mal12345

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www.dvice.com/2013-10-4/scientist-wants-transplant-human-head

"In Frankenstein, a mad scientist puts together a man by sewing together dead human parts. One of those parts is a head. It seems like a far-fetched notion, but Italian neuroscientist Dr. Sergio Canavero of the Turin Advanced Neuromodulation Group believes that with new strides in technology, a human head could be transplanted from one body to another in the very near future..."
 

Mal12345

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Monkey head transplant operation (re-enactment)
 

Andy

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In addition to all the normal problems of rejection I can see two big issues to a head transplant. One is the sensitivity of the brain to oxygen deprivation, the other is all the nerves going through the spinal column. I think it would be hard to do, and even harder to do without the subject ending up as a brain damaged quadraplegic. Probably beyond todays science, but maybe not tomorrows.
 

Mal12345

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Is this going to be the new torture in the 21st Century?

Sounds fun.

Want to start a thread on the MORALITY of transplanting human heads? How is it morally any different from transplanting a bodily organ?
 

Coriolis

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Want to start a thread on the MORALITY of transplanting human heads? How is it morally any different from transplanting a bodily organ?
Anything that causes needless pain and disability could easily be considered immoral.
 

Mal12345

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Anything that causes needless pain and disability could easily be considered immoral.

What if the person is being saved from a life as a quadriplegic?
 

lowtech redneck

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In addition to all the normal problems of rejection I can see two big issues to a head transplant. One is the sensitivity of the brain to oxygen deprivation, the other is all the nerves going through the spinal column. I think it would be hard to do, and even harder to do without the subject ending up as a brain damaged quadraplegic. Probably beyond todays science, but maybe not tomorrows.

Even assuming both of those problems are solved:

Its more utilitarian to harvest the organs of brain-dead patients, whereby you can save more lives from a single donor.

As for extending the human lifespan, brain cell degeneration would presumably continue as normal, so even beside the supply limitations its just much more practical to research cellular regeneration.

Speaking of mad scientists in real life: http://www.cracked.com/article_17039_9-real-life-mad-scientists.html

^The head transplant guy is #1, but I frankly consider #9 to be the most disturbing.
 

/DG/

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Its more utilitarian to harvest the organs of brain-dead patients, whereby you can save more lives from a single donor.

Yup this.

Besides, if we get to the point wherein we can transfer an entire human head to another body and have the body actually be functioning...wouldn't you think that we'd be able to repair spinal injuries at that point?
 

Cellmold

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www.dvice.com/2013-10-4/scientist-wants-transplant-human-head

"In Frankenstein, a mad scientist puts together a man by sewing together dead human parts. One of those parts is a head. It seems like a far-fetched notion, but Italian neuroscientist Dr. Sergio Canavero of the Turin Advanced Neuromodulation Group believes that with new strides in technology, a human head could be transplanted from one body to another in the very near future..."

Have you had your head transplanted?
 

Lark

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Mad science bastards.

See in relation to head transplants the proper literary references are probably not Frankenstein but Herbert West Reanimator, although the movie rather than the HP Lovecraft story features the transplanted heads in all their glory (or gory).

There was also a TV movie called Cold Lazerous (spelling) which featured how a frozen head was reanimated in a future to permit people to experience its dreams and memories, it was decadent and degenerate age in which desperation to experience emotions, horror and thrills drove people to do so believing that it wasnt a hell for the head to remember its worst moments (including being raped as a child by a tramp, every romantic fail since the point and alcoholism).

Some of the stories I've heard about stem cell research is equally creepy too.
 

Mal12345

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Mad science bastards.

See in relation to head transplants the proper literary references are probably not Frankenstein but Herbert West Reanimator, although the movie rather than the HP Lovecraft story features the transplanted heads in all their glory (or gory).

There was also a TV movie called Cold Lazerous (spelling) which featured how a frozen head was reanimated in a future to permit people to experience its dreams and memories, it was decadent and degenerate age in which desperation to experience emotions, horror and thrills drove people to do so believing that it wasnt a hell for the head to remember its worst moments (including being raped as a child by a tramp, every romantic fail since the point and alcoholism).

Some of the stories I've heard about stem cell research is equally creepy too.

 

Stanton Moore

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Yup this.

Besides, if we get to the point wherein we can transfer an entire human head to another body and have the body actually be functioning...wouldn't you think that we'd be able to repair spinal injuries at that point?

Seems likely.
 

Noll

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everything is possible with science! just give it enough time, funding and staff.
 
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