In the animated series Futurama, some people survived by hiding only their heads in a special bowl. A new study conducted by scientists may be the first step in the process that pave the way for life in such chambers. Researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center managed to preserve a pig brain outside the body in a healthy and functional way. At least for a while…
In their study, researchers first used a device called extracorporeal pulsatile circulation control (EPCC) after determining the conditions necessary for the healthy functioning of pigs’ brains. Thanks to this device, factors such as nutrients, fluid flow, blood pressure and temperature that the brain needs were prepared to mimic the environment of the brain in the body. Afterwards, the pig brain, anesthetized with ketamine, was placed into the system.
Is it possible to live only as a brain?
The study conducted by a team of neurologists revealed that the activity in the brain continued with minimal change over a 5-hour period, despite the absence of biological input from the rest of the body. According to the researchers, this success will open new ways to examine the human brain without affecting other body functions and will also enable brain transplantation in the future.
Juan Pascual, professor of neurology, pediatrics and physiology at the Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, said, “This new method allows us to answer physiological questions in a way that has never been done before, by allowing research that focuses on the brain independently of the body.”
The research was published in the scientific journal Scientific Reports.
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