In a provocative new paper, an Italian neuroscientist outlines how to perform a complete human head transplant[1] , arguing that such a surgical procedure is now within the realm of possibility.


Switching heads sounds pretty "Frankenstein," for sure. But for decades researchers have been trying the procedure on animals. In 1970, the first head "linkage" was achieved in a monkey[2] . But no one knew how to hook up the transplanted head to the spinal cord.


Now Dr. Sergio Canavero of the Turin Advanced Neuromodulation Group says he knows how to solve that problem.


"The greatest technical hurdle to such endeavor is of course the reconnection of the donor's and recipient's spinal cords," Dr. Canavero wrote in the paper. "It is my contention that the technology only now exists for such linkage. This paper sketches out a possible human scenario and outlines the technology to reconnect the severed cord (project GEMINI)."


He went on to say that several now-hopeless medical conditions might be addressed with the procedure, which would cost about $13 million[3] .


Among the conditions that might be treated with a head transplant include muscular dystrophy and quadriplegia[4] with widespread organ failure, according to U.S. News & World Report. And even some commenters on Reddit wrote they would be willing to donate their heads[5] if given the option.


Dr. Canavero wrote in his paper that a clean-cut must be performed to disconnect and reconnect the donor's head at the spine. Then, special adhesives -- such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) -- would be used to fuse the donor's head and spine to the recipient.



"It is this 'clean cut' the key to spinal cord fusion, in that it allows proximally severed axons to be 'fused' with their distal counterparts," Canavero wrote. And, a clean cut may allow the body[6] to naturally repair the severed nerves.


But not everyone is convinced.


"It's complete fantasy, that you could use [PEG technology] in such a traumatic injury in an adult mammal[7] ," Dr. Jerry Silver, Case Western Reserve University neurologist, told CBSNews.com. "But to severe a head and even contemplate the possibility of gluing axons back properly across the lesion to their neighbors is pure and utter fantasy in my opinion... This is bad science, this should never happen."


Canavero's paper was published in the current issue of the journal Surgical Neurology International[8] .



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  • <strong>Warning: The following slides contain graphic images.</strong>




  • This three-photo combination shows Dallas Wiens, the recipient of the first full face transplant in the United States. On the left, a 2008 Wiens family photo provided by Brigham and Women's Hospital, shows Wiens with his daughter Scarlette prior to an electrical accident that disfigured his face; center, a December 2010 file photo provided by Parkland Health and Hospital System in Dallas, and released by Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, shows Wiens prior to receiving a full face transplant during the week of March 14, 2011; and right, shows Wiens as he takes questions from members of the media during a news conference at Brigham And Women's Hospital, in Boston, Monday, May 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Wiens Family, Parkland Health and Hospital System in Dallas, and Steven Senne)




  • Undated photos provided Thursday, Aug. 11, 2011 by the Nash family and Brigham and Women's Hospital show chimpanzee attack victim Charla Nash before she was attacked by a chimpanzee and a recent photo release by the hospital Thursday Aug. 11, 2011 showing Nash after face transplant surgery, right. Nash was mauled by a chimpanzee in 2009 and received the transplant in May 2011 at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Massachusetts. Nash, 57, said in a statement she's looking forward to doing things she once took for granted, including being able to smell, eat normally, speak clearly and kiss loved ones. (AP Photo/Brigham and Women's Hospital, Lightchaser Photography)




  • These undated file photos provided Thursday, Aug. 11, 2011 by the Brigham and Women's Hospital show chimpanzee attack victim Charla Nash after the attack, left, and post-face transplant surgery, right. The U.S. government wants to start regulating face and hand transplants just as kidneys, hearts and other organs are now. That means establishing waiting lists, a system to allocate body parts and donor testing to prevent deadly infections. Officials say this is a big step toward expanding access to these radical operations, especially for wounded troops returning home. The new rule is expected to take effect later in 2012 or early 2013. (AP Photo/Brigham and Women's Hospital, Lightchaser Photography, File)




  • 37-year-old Richard Lee Norris of Hillsville, Virginia, was injured in 1997 in a gun accident. Richard Lee Norris from Hillsville, Virginia, underwent the 36-hour operation last week after living as a recluse for 15 years. Doctor's say he has also regained his sense of smell. Due to the accident, Mr. Norris lost his lips and nose and had limited movement of his mouth. The transplant took place at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Physicians say it is the most extensive face transplant ever carried out, including new teeth, nose, tongue and jaw. The surgery was funded by the US Navy, which hopes the techniques will help casualties from Iraq and Afghanistan. Surgeons who carried out the operation said it was part of a series of transplant operations lasting 72 hours, using organs from one donor in five patients, including Mr Norris. (Rex Features via AP Images)




  • 37-year-old Richard Lee Norris of Hillsville, Virginia, was injured in 1997 in a gun accident. Richard Lee Norris from Hillsville, Virginia, underwent the 36-hour operation last week after living as a recluse for 15 years. Doctor's say he has also regained his sense of smell. Due to the accident, Mr. Norris lost his lips and nose and had limited movement of his mouth. The transplant took place at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Physicians say it is the most extensive face transplant ever carried out, including new teeth, nose, tongue and jaw. The surgery was funded by the US Navy, which hopes the techniques will help casualties from Iraq and Afghanistan. Surgeons who carried out the operation said it was part of a series of transplant operations lasting 72 hours, using organs from one donor in five patients, including Mr Norris. (Rex Features via AP Images)




  • In this Aug. 20, 2008, file photo, Carmen Tarleton is interviewed in her home in Thetford , Vt. The Vermont woman who was burned and disfigured when her ex-husband doused her with industrial lye four years ago has been approved for a face transplant at a Boston hospital.(AP Photo/Toby Talbot)




  • UCLA's animated graphic video explains how face transplantation is done.