In this study, the scientists simulated the process of spaced learning by examining two types of non-brain human cells — one from nerve tissue and one from kidney tissue — in a laboratory setting.
These cells were exposed to varying patterns of chemical signals, akin to the exposure of brain cells to neurotransmitter patterns when we learn new information.
The intriguing part? These non-brain cells also switched on a “memory gene” – the same gene that brain cells activate when they detect information patterns and reorganize their connections to form memories.
Maybe. There are numerous reports of people having changes in personality after organ transplants.
Personality changes following heart transplantation: The role of cellular memory https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31739081/
https://www.sciencealert.com/eerie-personality-changes-sometimes-happen-after-organ-transplants
Many stories like this from fecal exchanges (trans-poo-sions)
Yes, that is also true. Many things make up the mind, and changing a major input, e.g. the microbiota that make a particular mix of short chain fatty acids and other neuro effective compounds, is going to change the cognitive outputs.
To be fair, I think anyone going through something as traumatic as basically being put into stasis and having their heart cut out and and then having one reattached would change a bit simply because of the process.
I mean, you don’t keep stepping on Lego bricks barefoot after you’ve done so, and we expect people who have had a heart ripped out and then another one reinserted to act the same?..
Damn, that’s interesting!