Can a brain be kept alive and functioning outside a body?

In summary, the conversation discusses the feasibility and potential implications of keeping a brain alive without a body, as well as the possibility of connecting multiple brains together. However, due to current limitations and lack of understanding, these questions cannot be definitively answered. The conversation also briefly touches on the idea of brain transplants, but this is currently not possible.
  • #1
KingKai
34
0
This is not a joke.

Is it by all accounts impossible to do this, supposing that an artificial heart with artificial blood transport systems (that provide oxygen and all needed nutrients) were used to keep the cells from dying.

Also, assuming the brain was yours, what would it feel like to have no sensory input whatsoever? Would you feel alive and conscious? Would you be dreaming?


Also, what would happen if you hooked up two brains together? How about a hundred brains? a thousand? via physical neural networks and synapses. Would the resultant organism think as one, or would its thoughts be chaotic and cluttered?
 
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  • #2
What if I wanted to have my brain transported into the body of a 6'2'' athlete with a rippling 6-pack and a handsome face?
 
  • #3
See monkey head transplants on youtube.
 
  • #4
(and no, currently there's no method to keep a brain alive in a vat or whatnot.)
 
  • #5
My daughter asserts that her mother is the most reasonable person she knows. Since that is not my experience of her I can only conclude that she has undergone a complete brain transplant.
 
  • #6
KingKai said:
This is not a joke.
Seriously? King Kai wants to be Doctor Gero ?
:tongue:
Or is it Doctor Wheelo?
[The post assumes you're a DBZ fan, if not ignore it...:redface:]
 
  • #7
KingKai said:
This is not a joke.

Is it by all accounts impossible to do this, supposing that an artificial heart with artificial blood transport systems (that provide oxygen and all needed nutrients) were used to keep the cells from dying.

We do not have the means to safely remove a brain from a body and keep it alive for any length of time.

KingKai said:
Also, assuming the brain was yours, what would it feel like to have no sensory input whatsoever? Would you feel alive and conscious? Would you be dreaming?

This question is unanswerable because it essentially boils down to "what would it be like to do something we don't know how to do".

KingKai said:
Also, what would happen if you hooked up two brains together? How about a hundred brains? a thousand? via physical neural networks and synapses. Would the resultant organism think as one, or would its thoughts be chaotic and cluttered?

"Hooking" brains together is so science fiction the question is even more unanswerable than the previous.

There's nothing really to discuss here.
 

1. Can a brain survive without a body?

Technically, a brain cannot survive without a body. The brain requires a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients, which it receives through the body's circulatory system. Without this supply, the brain would not be able to function for an extended period of time.

2. Is it possible to keep a brain alive outside of a body?

While it is not currently possible to keep a brain alive and functioning outside of a body, there have been experiments done with brain tissue in artificial environments. However, these experiments have not been able to replicate the complex functions of a living brain.

3. What would be required to keep a brain alive outside of a body?

In order to keep a brain alive and functioning outside of a body, it would require a constant supply of oxygen, nutrients, and a way to remove waste products. It would also need to be protected from damage and have a way to receive sensory input.

4. Could a brain be kept alive in a computer or machine?

There is currently no technology that would allow a brain to be transferred into a computer or machine and remain alive. While there have been advances in brain-computer interfaces, this technology is not advanced enough to support the complex functioning of a living brain.

5. What ethical considerations should be taken into account with the concept of keeping a brain alive outside of a body?

The idea of keeping a brain alive outside of a body raises many ethical concerns, such as the definition of life and consciousness, the concept of identity, and the potential consequences for the individual and society. Any research or experimentation in this area must be conducted with careful consideration and oversight.

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