Mind transfer (biological)
Mind transfer or identity transfer is a storytelling device seen in a variety of science fiction and supernatural fiction, in which one's consciousness is transferred into another body. A "bidirectional" mind transfer is variously called body swap, mind swap, or identity exchange.
The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction distinguishes the following types of identity transfer:
- Transfer of the personality to another body akin to mind uploading into computer
- Brain transplant
- Aliens taking over human bodies
- Shared identity, whereby the host body accepts another's mind