A Medical Mystery: Transferred Organ Donor Consciousness

Many recipients of organ transplants, (hearts/lungs, liver, kidney) have reported significant personality changes – which in many cases, correspond to the traits of the organ donor. Could the donor’s personality, memories or consciousness remain within their tissue cells and be passed on to another human being?

Transplant surgery only began to be developed in the 1970's, so it is a relatively new technique.

Where is Consciousness?

However, more recent studies have observed that neural cells are found not only in the brain, but also in the heart.  In fact, 65% of all heart cells are neural cells. The heart's function cannot therefore be classified as merely a pump. The heart communicates with the brain and every other major organ in the body biochemically, with the production of the hormone ANF - Atrial Natriuretic Factor.

Potentially, therefore, consciousness could be seated within the heart or any other major organ.