spineswitcharna

Spineswitcharna is a term found in Swedish-language speculative fiction and fan discourse to describe a fictional practice and the people who perform it. The word is a compound of spine and switch, implying a neural interface or device linked to the spinal column that enables switching of bodily or sensory-motor control between individuals, or between forms of embodiment. In most depictions, spine switching is facilitated by a compact implant or external apparatus that decodes and reroutes neural signals and memories, allowing a consciousness to inhabit a different body or avatar. The concept is used to explore themes of identity, autonomy, consent, and the ethics of embodiment, often in cyberpunk, transhuman, or horror contexts.

In narrative usage, spineswitcharna may refer to: a clandestine group that engineers or promotes spine-switching, the public, often controversial, adoption of the technology, or a term for people who have undergone multiple spine-switch procedures. The portrayal varies from clinical and restrained to sensational and dystopian, reflecting debates about personhood and memory integrity. Real-world status remains aspirational and fictional; there is no verified scientific basis for actual spine-switching. Scholarly and fan discussions typically address implications for rights, consent, watchfulness against exploitation, and the sociopolitical consequences of fluid embodiment.

See also: mind uploading, body transfer, neuroethics, cyberpunk fiction.