Does the Self Exist Outside the Brain?

Alcor company uses a technique known as cryopreservation to freeze and preserve the heads of legally deceased individuals. They hope in the future, advancements in technology will enable them to revive these individuals by attaching their heads to new bodies. The underlying assumption of this theory is that the head is the site of our memories, thoughts, experiences, and ultimately our entire identity, while the body serves as the vessel for the mind and consciousness.

Memory is indeed a major aspect of brain function, primarily created by nerve cells, particularly in regions such as the amygdala, hippocampus, cerebellum, and prefrontal cortex. Memory is a fundamental aspect of the human mind, alongside thoughts, beliefs, perceptions, and desires. Although the brain plays a primary role in integrating information from the body and the environment to form memory and mind, the influence of other parts of the body on mental processes is an interesting topic in related research fields. From this new perspective, the mind and consciousness can be considered beyond the brain alone and should be viewed as integral components of the entire body. If future observations confirm that the body is integral to our minds, several issues arise that have serious ethical and philosophical implications.

A new fascinating article in Nature Communication reported that memory is not limited to the brain; non-brain cells can also learn and store information. The researchers observed that non-neural cells can recognize chemical patterns and create memories similar to neural cells. They found that non-neural cells better store information, like nerve cells, using a method called “Learning over intervals” which is more effective for memory retention than mass learning (cramming). The results of this study imply that even bodily cells can adapt and retain information over time, potentially through molecular or biochemical changes, highlighting a broader biological basis for learning and memory processes [1]. Although there is limited data regarding the type of information stored in non-neural cells, the results of this study raise serious questions about the role of the body in the formation of memory and the mind. Is this information complex, similar to that stored in the brain? Is this memory stable or transient?

Observations that may be explained by memory of non-nervous system tissues

Limited evidence shows that organ transplantation may lead to cognitive alterations in recipients. Some recipients, particularly those who have received heart transplants, report experiencing new personality traits that they did not possess before. It seems that part of the donor's information has been transferred to the recipients. These personality changes are also observed in approximately 89% of all organ transplant recipients, including those who have undergone liver and kidney transplants, which seem to be similar to changes seen in heart transplant recipients. It has been hypothesized that these changes may result from a transfer of "cellular memory," enabling recipients to adopt certain personality traits of their donors. Although these reports are primarily based on personal accounts, the significance of these observations should prompt the scientific community to take them seriously and conduct further research to clarify these sparse studies [2,3].

Head, body, or both of them?

Many scientists believe that the brain is the center of self and identity. Some propose that if we could upload the blueprints of the brain's connections into a powerful supercomputer, it might be possible to continue the life of the brain's owner on a digital platform or in reality by transferring this information into a new body. However, observations such as the rubber hand illusion and phantom limb sensations—where individuals who have lost a hand or foot still perceive the presence of the amputated limb—indicate the essential role of the body in the formation of mind and cognition. The role of the body in memory and mind formation, known as the embodied mind, challenges several proposed methods that aim to preserve the mind and self in new bodies.

For instance, some surgeons have suggested a science fiction-like scenario in which a person whose body has been severely damaged by illness could be saved through head-to-body attachment surgery. While head transplantation is largely theoretical, despite some claims regarding its feasibility, it can bring significant ethical issues. If this procedure were to be performed in the future, who would be considered the recipient and who would be the donor in head transplantation?

The association of mind, body, and consciousness is a complex and fascinating topic with significant philosophical and ethical implications. The Mind-Body Problem in philosophy explores the nature of the relationship between mental and physical states. If the body plays a significant role in the formation of our minds, it challenges traditional dualist views that separate the mind and body as distinct substances. Moreover, if the body has a significant role in shaping our identity, it raises questions about what constitutes a person. Is our identity solely our mental state, or does our physical embodiment play also a crucial role? New studies suggest that the body may play a fundamental role in our perception of ourselves and the external world. Furthermore, this new perspective challenges the hypothesis that our mind can simply inhabit a new body if our original body is destroyed or severely damaged by diseases such as cancer, as often depicted in media and science fiction films.