The studies of Dr. James Ripley on the persistence of consciousness in the undead.
Personal log of Doctor James Ripley. August 13, 1987.
Four years following the undead outbreak we have nearly eradicated all trace of the SYC virus. While isolated reports of undocumented zombies occasionally appear, there have been no incidents requiring government or military intervention in over 6 months. As such, acquiring specimens for my research has become increasingly difficult.
My cache of zombies has dwindled from two dozen to just five in the last year. A corpse in this state of decay must be kept in an extremely controlled environment to prevent further decomposition. Even so, low temperatures only delay the inevitable as freezing these specimens would prevent me from conducting my work.
The psychology of zombies is something often overlooked in the grand tapestry of the conflict and yet is of vital importance. Practical applications include their movement and attack patterns and I continue to make breakthroughs that are liable to shake the philosophical institutions to their core.
Most recently, I have discovered what I believe to be irrefutable evidence of what we understand to be the soul. It is well known that zombies will follow patterns similar to those of when they were alive. For example, walking into the same grocery store or mimicking the movements of one’s past times such as fishing or playing cards. Early studies concluded that this was simply due to muscle memory and the topic was not further explored in favor of more militaristic and defense-oriented research. Understandable, given the state of affairs at the time.
I have concluded that muscle memory does not account for many of the nuances I have observed. For example, I observed an elderly woman pick up a plastic doll and appear to rock it to sleep. Similarly, a young man found a small box in one of the holding cells and repeatedly dropped to one knee. I assume he was either about to propose or had recently done so when he was infected. These and many more behaviors become commonplace when all traces of food are removed from the zombie’s senses.
I do not believe these can be explained by simple habit or muscle memory, as the accepted doctrines state. After an infected person dies, all oxygen is cut off from the brain, rendering all their higher function inert. Only basic motor skills persist, relying on the accelerated anaerobic metabolism induced by the SYC virus. Previous studies have found that while these parts of the brain show moderate decay, the frontal lobe and other areas of higher function show decomposition consistent with the time of death.
These areas of higher function are where a zombie would retain its “habits” and behaviors consistent with its pre-infected life. Since they are gone, I have concluded that there is an underlying element tying these zombies to our reality. I myself am not religious but I believe the analogy of a soul is the most fitting in this situation. Despite losing most of its cerebral function, something inexplicable and unobservable remains in the zombie’s mind,
preserving aspects of its humanity and personality. Is this spiritual fiber simply stored in the brainstem and released upon completely destroying the brain and killing the zombie? Or does it remain forever attached to our corporeal bodies, doomed to lie in the ground with us for all time?
I must acquire more specimens to continue my work…
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