Investigation Delves Into Neuroscientists' Opinions Regarding Memory Extraction From the Deceased, Revealing Their Perspectives
A recent study published in the Journal PLOS One has shed light on the thoughts of neuroscientists regarding the feasibility of preserving a human brain and later extracting its memories. The survey, conducted by Ariel Zeleznikow-Johnston of Monash University in Australia, polled 312 neuroscientists, both memory experts and generalists, about the prospects of memory extraction from cryopreserved brains and the possibility of whole brain emulation.
The study reveals that most neuroscientists believe memory has a physical basis, with approximately 70% agreeing that long-term memories are encoded in stable structural changes in the brain, primarily through lasting alterations in neuronal connectivity and synaptic strength. However, there is a significant lack of agreement about the specific neurophysiological features or spatial scales that are crucial for memory storage.
When it comes to the feasibility of preserving a human brain and later extracting its memories, the study shows a median probability estimate of around 40%. The same median estimate applies to the theoretical feasibility of whole brain emulation, which involves digitizing and potentially uploading a person’s brain to enable memory and consciousness restoration.
Zeleznikow-Johnston told IFLScience that the 40% probability for both questions is not 100%, but it's also not close to 0%. She noted that a substantial chunk of neuroscientists think there's a very real chance that emulating a human brain will work, and this number might increase over time.
Predictions on when whole brain emulation might be practically achieved vary widely, with estimates ranging from mid-century for simple organisms like C. elegans (around 2045) to the very distant future for humans (around 2125). Advances in observational technologies, such as aldehyde-stabilized cryopreservation, and computational neuroscience may improve the ability to decode memories from preserved brains, raising the possibility, though far from certainty, that memories could someday be extracted from chemically preserved brains without loss of information, theoretically enabling a form of digital "upload."
In summary, the current consensus among neuroscientists about the feasibility of extracting memories from a preserved brain and storing them in a computer is cautiously optimistic but remains uncertain and divided. While there is no full agreement or certainty, a significant minority of neuroscientists consider the concept theoretically plausible, and ongoing advances in neuroscience may clarify these possibilities in coming decades.
- The survey conducted by Ariel Zeleznikow-Johnston revealed that about 70% of neuroscientists believe long-term memories are encoded in stable structural changes in the brain, which aligns with the future technological development of science as discussed on Gizmodo.
- The study on preserving human brains and extracting memories indicates a median probability estimate of around 40%, implying a possibility that could further increase with technological advancements in fields like computational neuroscience, as discussed in future technology discourses on Gizmodo.
- The theoretical feasibility of whole brain emulation, as pointed out in the study, has a median estimate of 40%, an excitement that resonates with emerging discussions on medical-conditions and neurological-disorders in science and technology articles on Gizmodo.
- Neuroscientists, in their predictions, believe that whole brain emulation might be practically achievable by mid-century for simple organisms like C. elegans, and for humans, it appears to be a possibility in the very distant future, as speculated in articles about the intersection of technology and science on Gizmodo.
