4 ms·

What about a head?

• mschuster91 7y ago
  This one will probably take decades to get in a useful state. For head (or other organ) artificial alive-keeping we still don't know enough about how they work - and in case of especially the head we don't have the adequate technology yet to properly reconnect the neurons. It might be that we can do this sooner than keeping the full head alive though, given that there is way more investment in such research to help people with spinal injuries regain motor control.
  • BurningFrog 7y ago
    It seems like the inputs the head requires are pretty well defined. Oxygenated, nutrition loaded blood mainly. But I'm sure that misses 8 unsolvable essentials... Preserving sanity for the severed head is a whole other story.
    • mschuster91 7y ago
      It's more complicated than "only" blood. The hormones and other signalling chemicals involved in the brain-body communication are not really figured out - we don't even know what hormonal balance is "normal" and treat mental illnesses such as depression and schizophrenia with a "shotgun" approach - shoot a lot of loads and see which one has an effect.
      • BurningFrog 7y ago
        There are also nerve "cables" to interface with.
        • aledalgrande 7y ago
          I've never heard about reconnecting severed nerves and have them function. Is that currently possible?
          • BurningFrog 7y ago
            Not that I know. But it's at least an understandable and defined problem.