People receiving organ transplants have reported strange changes in their emotions, tastes, and memories.
This phenomenon is moast common in heart recipients, but those who received kidneys, lungs, and even faces have also noticed changes to their food preferences, music choices, and even sexual orientation.
For some patients, their new hobbies and preferences mirror those of their donors, which has led experts to question if recipients are also receiving their donors’ memories.
In a review published earlier this year, researchers pointed to one case study in which a nine-year-old boy received a heart from a three-year-old girl who drowned in her family’s pool.
Though the boy had no idea how his donor died, his mother reported that he became ‘deathly afraid of water.’
In another,a college professor who received a heart from a fallen police officer who was shot in the face started seeing ’a flash of light’ right in front of his eyes.
Increasing research suggests this could be because the heart and brain are intrinsically linked, as the heart shares neurons and cells similar to the brain.
Additionally, an organ transplant may cause genes that control traits to change and express themselves differently.
<img id="i-1af730488b841ebc" src="https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/11/17/93048297-14182585-image-a-1_1733937520049.jpg" height="425" width="634" alt="In a recent study, researchers detailed cases of heart transplant
In a recent study, researchers detailed cases of heart transplant recipients adopting their donors’ preferences and memories
In the study, researchers detailed case studies of heart transplant recipients who seemed to ‘inherit’ their donors’ memories.Pictured here is Charlotte Carney, a student from the UK who had a heart transplant in 2019 for a life-threatening cardiac condition
The researchers in the 2024 review wrote: ‘Emerging evidence suggests that heart transplantation may involve the transfer of the donor’s personality traits and memories to the recipient, challenging conventional views of memory and identity.
‘Additionally, the heart’s neural network and bidirectional communication with the brain support the concept of heart-brain connection in memory and personality.’
The team suggested that these changes could be due to a transfer of cellular memory, which suggests that individual cells might potentially be able to form memories. However, the mechanism for this is still unclear.
Additionally, introducing a new organ to the recipient’s body could cause genes to express themselves differently.
However, many experts believe that these cases are too coincidental, and the changes may instead be a psychological response to recovering from major surgery and near-deadly heart conditions.
experts from McGill University in Canada, for example, suggested that immunosuppressant medications that organ recipients have to take can cause increases in appetite, which could change their perspective on food.
Other research suggests that recipients may go into the surgery already worried about inheriting their donor’s behaviors or personality traits, which could lead to behavioral changes.
The stress of having a major, lifesaving operation can also cause patients to change their outlooks on certain aspects of their lives like relationships.
In one 2002 case study, doctors detailed the case of a woman who inherited her donor’s food preferences.
The researchers wrote: ‘She was a health conscious dancer and choreographer, upon leaving the hospital she had an uncontrollable urge to go to a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant and order chicken nuggets, a food she never ate.
Another 29-year-old woman who received a heart from a 19-year-old vegetarian suddenly developed an aversion to meat.
The researchers also cited sexual orientations changing.
In one case study mentioned, a homosexual male recipient of a heart from a lesbian artist reportedly became more attracted to women.
Meanwhile, one lesbian woman who received a heterosexual woman’s heart said she became attracted to men after her transplant and started questioning her sexuality.
The team behind the 2024 review cautioned that more research is needed on the connection between heart transplants and memory.
They wrote: ’Further interdisciplinary research is needed to unravel the intricacies of memory transfer, neuroplasticity, and organ integration, offering insights into both organ transplantation and broader aspects of neuroscience and human identity.
‘understanding these complexities holds promise for enhancing patient care in organ transplantation and deepens our understanding of essential aspects of human experience and existence.’
What are the psychological effects experienced by organ transplant recipients after surgery?
Interview Between Time.news Editor and Organ Transplant Expert
Time.news Editor: Welcome to Time.news! Today, we have an intriguing guest, Dr. Emily Hart, a leading researcher in organ transplantation and its unexpected effects on recipients. Dr. Hart, thank you for joining us!
Dr. Emily Hart: Thank you for having me! I’m excited to discuss this fascinating topic.
Editor: Let’s dive right in. We’ve seen reports that organ transplant recipients often experience changes in their preferences and emotions. Can you explain what kind of changes these individuals report?
Dr. Hart: Certainly! Many transplant recipients have shared that they develop new tastes in food, music preferences, and sometimes even shifts in personality traits. As a notable example, heart transplant patients frequently enough report feeling a connection to their donor’s life experiences, with some articulating fears or tastes that seemingly reflect their donor’s personalities.
Editor: That’s remarkable! I read in a recent article about cases where recipients adopted memories or preferences that mirror those of their donors. Is ther a sense in the medical community that these experiences are more than just coincidence?
Dr. Hart: Yes, indeed.While we must remain cautious in interpreting these reports, increasing evidence suggests there might be a deeper connection. One notable case involved a nine-year-old boy who became profoundly afraid of water after receiving a heart from a girl who drowned. Such coincidences have led us to explore the potential for emotional and memory transfer in transplant recipients.
Editor: that’s a chilling example. It must raise fascinating questions about the relationship between the heart and the brain. What does current research say about their connection?
Dr. Hart: Current research is suggesting that the heart is more than just a pump. It contains neurons and cells that are similar to those found in the brain, which might play a role in how emotions are processed. So, when a transplant occurs, the recipient may not just receive the heart but potentially some of the emotional wiring associated with it.
Editor: There’s also the possibility of gene expression altering post-transplant, correct? How does that factor into the changes we’re observing?
Dr. Hart: Exactly! Transplantation can influence gene regulation, leading to changes in traits and behaviors. Studies show that the recipient’s body might adapt to the new organ in ways that activate or deactivate certain genes tied to personality and preferences, which adds another layer to this complex phenomenon.
Editor: It almost feels like we are tapping into uncharted territories of human experience. what are the implications of these discoveries for the future of organ transplant psychology?
Dr. Hart: These findings could revolutionize how we approach psychological support for transplant recipients. Rather of viewing these changes as merely side effects, we might need to consider them as integral parts of the recovery process. Understanding this aspect could enhance patient care, and also help recipients navigate their new identities.
Editor: That’s a profound shift. Do you beleive there’s potential for future research to uncover even more about this connection?
Dr. Hart: absolutely. We are only scratching the surface. With more case studies and scientific inquiries, we could learn not only how to manage post-transplant psychology better but also how to improve the overall quality of life for recipients by acknowledging and understanding the emotional and psychological nuances involved.
Editor: Dr. Hart, thank you for sharing your insights today. The connection between organ donation and human psychology is indeed compelling and raises numerous questions for the future.
Dr. Hart: Thank you for having me! It was a pleasure discussing this essential topic, and I look forward to what future research will uncover.