Humans may witness personality change after organ transplant: Study

In a new study, it has been noted that organ transplants, which save people's lives, may also be altering their personalities in unexpected ways.

The paper titled “Personality Changes Associated with Organ Transplants”, which was published in the medical journal Transplantology in January discussed how various transplant recipients have seen major and long-lasting changes in their actions, thoughts and behaviour.

The investigation was carried out by researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in the United States.

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They looked into the fact that there were significant changes in the personality of a patient after an organ transplant.

The researchers also observed the types of changes recipients of heart transplants went through and if they were different from recipients of other organs.

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How was the studycarried out and what was found?

The study was carried out with 47 participants who filled out an online survey. Among the 47 people, 23 were heart recipients and 24 others were organ recipients.

In the study,89 per cent of all transplant recipients said that they went through personality changes after their transplant surgery.

They reported changes in preferences for food, music, art, professional pursuits, intimacy and leisure activities. Some people also wrote about experiencing “new” memories, enhanced cognitive capabilities, heightened social and sexual adaptability and more inclination towards spiritual or religious events.

These were the types of changes which were described as either neutral or beneficial, however, there were also reports of distressing changes like anxiety, delirium, depression, sexual dysfunction and psychosis.

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Many recipients also shared having “memories” which were not related to their personal experiences. Such memories generally involve sensory perceptions which were apparently related to their organ donor.

An example was highlighted by the paper: “A 56-year-old college professor received the heart of a 34-year-old police officer who tragically lost his life after he was fatally shot in the face."

“Following the transplant, the recipient reported a peculiar experience, stating, ‘A few weeks after I got my heart, I began to have dreams. I would see a flash of light right in my face, and my face gets real, real hot. It actually burns'," the paper read.

(With inputs from agencies)