X-Message-Number: 5028
From: Brian Wowk <>
Date: Sat, 21 Oct 1995 00:42:08 -0500
Subject: Brain samples

        Although I expected some questions about the proposal to
remove microliter brain samples from CryoCare patients, I must
admit I was surprised to see such strong concerns expressed
by people who plan to discard their entire spinal cord as
part of their cryonics arrangements!
 
        One microliter of brain tissue (10^-6 of the total brain
mass-- the volume of a pinhead) is NOT neurologically significant.  
The brain is not like a computer, where a single transistor failure
can shut the whole thing down.  The brain processes and stores
information in a broadly disseminated and redundant fashion.  In
fact, the most important (and frequently used) pieces of imformation
are precisely the ones that will be stored the most redundantly.  
If a microliter of your brain tissue was obliterated right now
(with no subsequent bleed), I doubt there is a neurological
test in the world that could detect it.
 
        As far as medical ethics goes, microliter brain samples fall
in the same category as drawing blood samples or making burr holes 
in the skull (which can sometimes injure the brain surface) to monitor 
perfusion.  The information obtained will not only benefit future
patients, but also directly benefit patients themselves by providing 
information relevant to long-term care and revival planning.
 
        In conclusion, I must say that I find these concerns
*in the context of cryonics* rather remarkable.  Suppose the only 
way to save someone's car was to smash it into a wall at 60 MPH
so that it became crumpled enough to fit in a small cargo container.
You then remove a small paint chip from the smashed wreck, and
the owner comes running and says, "You ruined my car!"
 
Brian Wowk
President,
CryoCare Foundation


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