Scientists have gathered evidence of "memory transfer" from a donor following a heart transplant.

A number of heart transplant recipients believe that along with the organ, they may have somehow inherited certain personality traits, preferences, and even past experiences from the donor. In an article published in the journal Cureus, medical professionals from several universities in Saudi Arabia also advocate for this possibility.

Among the examples cited by the Arab researchers as evidence is the case of a nine-year-old boy who received the heart of a three-year-old girl who drowned in a backyard pool. Although the boy had no idea how his donor had died, his mother later reported that after the transplant, her son developed a “deathly fear of water.”

In another instance, a college professor who received the heart of a police officer shot in the face began to experience vivid flashes in his dreams and felt heat on his face.

Patients after transplants have also described changes or the emergence of new preferences in food, music, interests, and sexual relationships. For instance, one woman developed a love for chicken nuggets, a dish she had never eaten before, after receiving the heart of someone who favored this food.

Some reported dreams that matched the donor's personality or circumstances surrounding their death. These and other cases were previously discussed in a scientific paper published in 2002 in the Journal of Near-Death Studies.

“Emerging evidence suggests that personality traits and memories of the donor may be transferred to the recipient during heart transplantation, challenging traditional notions of memory and human identity,” the authors of the new review state.

Among the hypotheses explaining this possibility, researchers mentioned the concept of cellular memory, the theory of memory transfer via protein or RNA molecules, and several other scientifically controversial ideas.

According to contemporary understanding, memory is stored only in the neurons of the brain. Moreover, many experts have previously noted that cases like those described may be coincidences or psychological reactions from the patient following a serious operation and the proximity of death.

Researchers at McGill University (Canada) found that changes in appetite and food preferences may be linked to the use of immunosuppressants prescribed to organ transplant recipients. Additionally, some recipients worry about changes in personality and character prior to the surgery, which may contribute to such transformations.

Another factor raising doubts about the credibility of the new study is the reputation of the journal chosen for its publication. In the scientific community, Cureus is often criticized for publishing edited versions of articles that have been retracted from other scientific journals due to methodological flaws or for “possible violations of medical ethics and human rights.”