When you hear of someone having a split-brain, what’s
the first thing that comes to your mind? Is it possible that you can function
with only half a brain? Does it mean you absorb any information twice? The most
common question that we all (including myself) wonder; can a split-brain
patient do two different tasks at the same time? I know what you’re thinking;
you probably thought I was referring to “multi-tasking.” Though it might sound
that way, by the end of this blog, you will know exactly what I mean.
Split-brain patients maintain their intellect and
motivation, and can walk without any difficulty. They can also use both their
hands on familiar tasks like tying a shoe. But when it comes to unfamiliar tasks
such as playing tennis or threading a needle, most likely they will have a
little struggle with it.
A man named Joe decided to undergo into surgery to
treat for his severe epilepsy. Joe had the bridge between his left and right
cerebral hemispheres (the corpus callosum) severed. As a result, his left and
right brains no longer communicate through that pathway. Speech production and
comprehension is equally divided between both hemispheres, but one side can be
more dominant than the other for speech. When they conducted an experiment with
Joe, he had to say what he saw of words and pictures that were displayed on the
screen. Since he spoke up from what he saw on his right side, means that his
dominant was his left. During this experiment, they noticed something
interesting. If there was anything viewed on his left side, he couldn't say
anything since his right hemisphere doesn't control his speech. He said that he didn't see anything from his left side, but when they asked him to simply close
his eyes and draw something on paper, surprisingly, he would draw what was on
the screen.
“The mind is made up of a constellation of
independent, semi-independent agents. And that these agents, these processes can
carry on a vast number of activities outside of our conscious awareness.”
Scientists believe that all of the independent variables have to develop into a
theory. Then that theory becomes not only of ourselves, but of the world.
Split brain is so confusing, well was, I think I understand it a bit better with your blog post. The video is was really made me understand what it means to be a split-brain person. It was really fascinating watching Joe under go the experiment. What caught me by surprise what that he did not know why he would draw the image seen on the left side and how they asked him what he saw he would only say what was on the right. Mind blown.
ReplyDeletehey rubi nice blog and very well said. I too had trouble understanding the concept or the basic general information about split brain patients. Your blog was very helpful but I do have a question for you though, maybe you can help me out...because Joe couldn't see on one eye does that mean he is permanently blind?
ReplyDeletedid the surgery make him do things better than before. i know that when you get that surgery both sides of the brain the right and left side hemispheres do things on their own and they don't communicate as much.i know in the book it says something about.
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