For example, in early 2024, a scientific study was published, describing a case where a 9-year-old boy named Jimmy received the heart of a 3-year-old girl who had drowned in a swimming pool. After the transplant, Jimmy suddenly became terrified of water. “He [Jimmy] doesn’t know who his donor was or how she died. But we do. She drowned at her mother’s partner’s house. Her mother and her partner left her with a teenage nanny who forgot about the child while talking on the phone…” said Jimmy’s mother.
In another case, a college student received the heart of a police officer who had been shot in the face. After the transplant, the student began frequently seeing or possibly “remembering” a flash of light before his eyes. “My face gets very hot at that moment; it literally burns,” said this unnamed student.
It is also reported that after a transplant, patients may experience dramatic changes in their taste in music or even their sexual preferences. Scientists in their studies suggest that this could be connected to the fact that the heart (and perhaps other organs as well) contains cells similar to neurons found in the brain.
In April 2024, a scientific paper was published about the so-called “heart memory.” “…The complex neural network of the heart, often referred to as the ‘heart-brain,’ interacts bidirectionally with the brain and other organs, supporting the concept of a connection between the heart and brain and its role in memory and personality,” the paper states. “The heart’s memory, including emotional imprints and genetic influences, has intriguing implications for heart transplants. While electrocardiography reveals persistent changes after transplantation, emotional imprints may be passed on to recipients, potentially affecting their psyche. The genetic composition, particularly the sequences of PHK and DNA in cardiomyocytes, might preserve such memory, influencing the emotional experience of recipients.”
People have long believed that the heart is the repository of emotions, desires, and wisdom, but it was only in 1991 that Dr. J. Andrew Armour seriously spoke of the “heart-brain.” According to his theory, the heart possesses its own neural network consisting of around 40,000 neurons capable of perceiving, feeling, learning, and storing memories. These neurons are very similar to those in the brain. However, not everyone agrees with this theory. Critics believe that if patients’ eating habits change after a transplant, it is simply because of the medications prescribed during the procedure, particularly immunosuppressants, which are given to prevent the rejection of the transplanted organ. Any change in character traits, according to them, is due to the stress that nearly all patients experience before the operation.
