• Question: whats a splitbrain?

    Asked by fstew004 to Ben, James, Jen, Michael, Susanna on 18 Mar 2013.
    • Photo: Jen Todd Jones

      Jen Todd Jones answered on 18 Mar 2013:

      Hi fstew!

      This is a form of brain damage where the two halves, or hemispheres, of the brain are split. The part called the corpus callosum, you can google this, is the bit that holds the two halves together – when this tears or is damaged usually in an accident like a car accident, the two halves of the brain can’t communicate any longer. It’s important to have the two halves communicating since they have to coordinate movement and listening and speaking, without this connection in split brain peopple have real difficulty living!

    • Photo: Susanna Martin

      Susanna Martin answered on 18 Mar 2013:

      As Jen says split brain is when the corpus callosum is cut or damaged, interestingly deliberately cutting the corpus callosum has been used to treat extreme epilepsy, although I don’t think people do this anymore, if you have a google you should be able to find some case studies about the consequences.

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