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

Imagine being told you are getting a procedure where they will completely remove your head and attach it to a donor body.

[QUOTE=Daniel Smith;45854919]I've always wondered something about the Futurama universe. How were they able to keep the heads of famous people alive even though they died decades or centuries before the head in a jar technology was made?[/QUOTE] Probably recreated their heads, and implanted some form of chip in their brain so it made them act like who they're supposed to act as.

[QUOTE=Rocko's;45854928]Probably recreated their heads, and implanted some form of chip in their brain so it made them act like who they're supposed to act as.[/QUOTE] If you ask me it's just one of those plot holes nobody ever bothered to explain tbh

Well okay, yeah it could be done But it wouldn't be 100% proper All we would be able to do currently is identify a broad section of nerve for controlling specific large muscles and sensation in both the body and the head, then connect them with either tiny electrodes or some artificial synapse, but all the fine connections wouldn't be bridged. For example, they may be able to grant macro-scale movements, but if the person could ever walk it would be the jitteriest walk ever with an extremely odd gate. Also there would be poor transmission of pain so the person could easily hurt themselves and not notice. And it's not like they can use a proverbial "glue" of sorts to join the spinal cords, like with stem cells or something else, because there are always individual differences between bodies and the nerves won't properly connect to the right pair. You wouldn't want a arm moving impulse to direct towards the heart for example. This would never be done in practice unless our future becomes one in which we have a back up full body clone.

One step closer to brain transplants. One step closer to me cloning myself and then body-jacking my clone to live forever. Now I just need research into brain plasticity to make some leaps.

[QUOTE=Zonesylvania;45854940]If you ask me it's just one of those plot holes nobody ever bothered to explain tbh[/QUOTE] It's a cartoon parodying the "WOOORLD OF TOMORROOWWW" futurism of the '60s, keeping heads alive in jars is kinda just another trope they follow

[QUOTE=Zonesylvania;45854940]If you ask me it's just one of those plot holes nobody ever bothered to explain tbh[/QUOTE] I think that's the point, its part of the joke.

[QUOTE=seano12;45854890]So we could transplant our heads to children and live forever?[/QUOTE] You know, your head ages too.

[QUOTE=Zonesylvania;45854688] 'but nobody should be allowed to play God.'[/QUOTE] This fucking argument. Its the single worst shit I've ever heard

Maybe we will be able to completely grow human bodies without the head artificially, as we already grow organs artificially. Just no brain because it is too complicated. Instead of SRS you could just put the head of a trans person onto the body he/she wants

[QUOTE=Rocko's;45854928]Probably recreated their heads, and implanted some form of chip in their brain so it made them act like who they're supposed to act as.[/QUOTE] They have all their former memories from past lives. Also licking them sends you back in time. You can't find logic in a sci fi cartoon.

[QUOTE=Daniel Smith;45854919]I've always wondered something about the Futurama universe. How were they able to keep the heads of famous people alive even though they died decades or centuries before the head in a jar technology was made?[/QUOTE] You wonder about that when you have seen in the first episode that the world was destroyed like 5 times but somehow the cryogenic institute building was completely intact?

[QUOTE=seano12;45854890]So we could transplant our heads to children and live forever?[/QUOTE] that'd be horrifying a little baby with an 80 year old's head

[QUOTE=Killer monkey;45854983]This fucking argument. Its the single worst shit I've ever heard[/QUOTE] Same, but not for the religious or moral connections, but because you hear it in literally every single movie and TV show ever. Yes, every single one, 100% no exceptions. [QUOTE=NeverGoWest;45854725]I have a hard time seeing what this could be actually used for, if anybody has an idea please explain it to me.[/QUOTE] So 33 year old neckbeards can have their head transplanted onto Victoria's Secret models and watch them try to seduce people?

[QUOTE=NeverGoWest;45854725]I have a hard time seeing what this could be actually used for, if anybody has an idea please explain it to me.[/QUOTE] Brain dead man having their body donated to someone with an active brain but body is shitting the bed.

[QUOTE=Impact1986;45855001]You wonder about that when you have seen in the first episode that the world was destroyed like 5 times but somehow the cryogenic institute building was completely intact?[/QUOTE] Nibler's species probably made sure that the building was untouched so Fry could live on to save the universe.

[QUOTE=Impact1986;45854989]Maybe we will be able to completely grow human bodies without the head artificially, as we already grow organs artificially. Just no brain because it is too complicated. Instead of SRS you could just put the head of a trans person onto the body he/she wants[/QUOTE] I want this so badly, SRS vaginas might be functional and with sensation, but nothing beats a biological vagina in sensation, also not having to deal with my male skeleton. Oooh and having a uterus too, I could give birth to a child!

[QUOTE=LiquidNazgul;45855009]Same, but not for the religious or moral connections, but because you hear it in literally every single movie and TV show ever. Yes, every single one, 100% no exceptions. So 33 year old neckbeards can have their head transplanted onto Victoria's Secret models and watch them try to seduce people?[/QUOTE] I hate it cause damn it I WANT to play god, if we cant do that then life is boring as fuck

From the article: [quote](This is not the same as restoring nervous system function to quadriplegics or other victims of traumatic spinal cord injury.)[/quote] Why not? Edit: Never mind, with closer reading this only works if the spine is surgically severed.

[QUOTE=Flapadar;45854779]Donor body dies without damage to their body, recipient was previously paralysed/etc?[/QUOTE] But it's super hard for someone to die with a properly healthy body. Like, for instance, the body could be in alright shape but the person died from a heart attack. Then they won't be able to give you that body unless they replace the heart. You'd inherit whatever issues the donor had with their body. also imagine if you choose to donate your body when you die. Imagine your funeral. They'll just bury your head. It'll save so much more space in the ground

[QUOTE=woolio1;45854766]Saving people who have sustained horrible body mutilation including, but not limited to, bisection, shrapnel wounds, gaping holes, partial maceration, etc. Basically, any problem that would render the patient's body unusable, or would kill the patient if they were still connected to it.[/QUOTE] [IMG]http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/mediawiki/images/c/c0/Black_Templar_Dreadnought.jpg[/IMG] Soon.....

So we can become a woman ?

donating a liver is feasible, but donating a body? I have a feeling those will be short in supply [editline]31st August 2014[/editline] [QUOTE=cNova;45855102]So we can become a woman ?[/QUOTE] 13 million bucks for this or sex change your choice

[QUOTE=_Kent_;45855069]From the article: Why not? Edit: Never mind, with closer reading this only works if the spine is surgically severed.[/QUOTE] What I wonder, is could the same technology and procedures be used to transplant a spinal cord? If the damage has to be surgical, I can't think of a reason why the spinal cord's broken section couldn't be surgically removed, and replaced with a functioning one.

Several hundred years later; [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JqNqrqtTd4[/media]

Like I said, it'll just be way to hard to get a donor whose body is in good enough shape to actually successfully donate the body. People usually aren't in very good shape when they die, unless they've been shot in the head or something. Then there's the issue of the recipient needing a body that's the same age/level of maturity, otherwise hormones would totally fuck you up

[QUOTE=Raxas;45855153]What I wonder, is could the same technology and procedures be used to transplant a spinal cord? If the damage has to be surgical, I can't think of a reason why the spinal cord's broken section couldn't be surgically removed, and replaced with a functioning one.[/QUOTE] Not so simple. If the nerves powering say, the arm went and connected to say, the shoulder or chest wall, we'd have problems for instance. You'd also need to be very precise to keep the level of damage and the level of transplant more or less similar to at least ensure that there was less chance of this happening. It's more detailed but this should about suffice.

Now we just need to master cloning, and then people will be able to transplant their heads to whatever body they want.

[QUOTE=Primigenes;45855002]Why the fuck would you want to be a head in a jar?[/QUOTE] [IMG]http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090609173401/en.futurama/images/9/99/Robot_Nixon_body.png[/IMG]

[QUOTE=Zonesylvania;45855190]Not so simple. If the nerves powering say, the arm went and connected to say, the shoulder or chest wall, we'd have problems for instance. You'd also need to be very precise to keep the level of damage and the level of transplant more or less similar to at least ensure that there was less chance of this happening. It's more detailed but this should about suffice.[/QUOTE] I see. Well, maybe someday, then.