TED-Ed: Can you transplant a head to another body? | Max G. Levy

The transcript discusses Dr. Robert White's controversial experiments on body transplants, focusing on his attempts to connect a monkey's head to another's body. Despite technical challenges like paralysis and brain oxygenation, White developed a brain cooling technique that revolutionized neurosurgery. His work raised significant ethical concerns, particularly regarding animal testing and the implications of such surgeries on humans. Although White never achieved a human head transplant, his experiments sparked ongoing debates about the mind-body connection and the ethical limits of medical science.

What was White's objective in performing the surgery on monkeys?

What technical hurdles did White face in his surgery?

How did White's brain cooling technique contribute to his surgical goals?

What ethical concerns were raised regarding White's body transplant experiments?

What were the results of the monkey body transplant experiment?

What philosophical questions does the surgery raise about the mind-body connection?

What legacy did White leave in the field of neurosurgery after his retirement?