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Some organ transplant recipients have reported experiencing mysterious changes in their personalities, emotions, and even memories following their surgeries, suggesting these traits might transfer along with the donated organ.

Take Anne Marie Switzer from Brampton, Canada, who underwent a heart transplant at age 50. Having battled heart issues since birth, requiring surgery as an infant, Switzer anticipated the transplant would improve her health. However, she noticed an unexpected change afterward – her emotional connections to loved ones felt different.

“I don’t know when the first time I realized it,” Switzer said. “I know I love my family, but I don’t get that squishy feeling.”

“I love my husband, but I don’t always get twitterpated anymore,” she said.

“It’s definitely a loss … because I’m a heart person. I’m a love person. I’m a relationship person. I don’t know how many people have told me, ‘You’ve got such a big heart.’ And I miss that,” Switzer said.

In another notable case decades earlier, Claire Sylvia of Massachusetts experienced unusual cravings after receiving a heart and lung transplant. She found herself suddenly desiring beer and Kentucky Fried Chicken – preferences that matched those of her 18-year-old donor.

More concerning cases have emerged as well. One five-year-old recipient developed an intense fear of drowning, while another patient reported experiencing visual phenomena similar to what their donor, a gunshot victim, had described.

Scientific research has begun examining this phenomenon, termed “cellular memory” or “heart memory.” A study in the National Library of Medicine database titled “Beyond the Pump: A Narrative Study Exploring Heart Memory” provides insight into these occurrences.

“Studies indicate that heart transplant recipients may exhibit preferences, emotions, and memories resembling those of the donors, suggesting a form of memory storage within the transplanted organ,” the study noted.

“Mechanisms proposed for this memory transfer include cellular memory, epigenetic modifications, and energetic interactions. Moreover, the heart’s intricate neural network, often referred to as the ‘heart brain,’ communicates bidirectionally with the brain and other organs, supporting the concept of heart-brain connection and its role in memory and personality,” the study abstract read.