Renowned neuroscientist Dr. Ariel Zeleznikow-Johnston has sparked excitement within the scientific community by sharing his findings on the feasibility of preserving human brains and decoding memories. A recent survey of 312 neuroscientists revealed “surprising openness” towards this concept, with a staggering 70.5% agreeing that long-term memories are stored in structural brain features.
According to Zeleznikow-Johnston, memories could be preserved by capturing the unique connections between brain cells, known as the connectome. This aggregate of neural connections is what makes each individual unique. Researchers are now exploring various methods to preserve brains, including advanced techniques like aldehyde-stabilized cryopreservation.
While there is currently no consensus on the feasibility of decoding memories from preserved brains, with only 40% of neuroscientists believing it could be possible, Zeleznikow-Johnston remains optimistic. He believes that as technology improves, this number will increase. The Aspirational Neuroscience community has even set a $100,000 prize for the first group to decode a non-trivial memory from a preserved brain.
The study’s findings have significant implications for our understanding of human consciousness and the possibility of life after death. While challenges remain, Zeleznikow-Johnston’s research offers a promising start towards unlocking the secrets of the human brain.
Source: https://www.iflscience.com/can-a-brain-be-preserved-and-uploaded-neuroscientist-survey-reveals-surprising-40-percent-probability-that-yes-it-could-79775