Split-Brain Procedure

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Split-brain research is the study of how the right and left hemispheres of the brain differ from each other. Through this research it was discovered that the right and left hemispheres could work independently due to the severing of the corpus callosum. Split-brain syndrome can be caused by the accidental severing of the corpus callosum or a surgical procedure called corpus calloscotomy. A corpus calloscotomy or split-brain procedure involves severing the corpus callosum, which connects the two hemispheres of the brain. Without the corpus callosum to connect the right and left hemispheres it becomes extremely difficult for the two sides of the brain to communicate and exchange information to each other. Epilepsy is the reason that brought about split-brain research. Epilepsy is a disorder in which nerve cells in the brain are disrupted resulting in a seizure. …show more content…

After a split brain procedure, the patient’s brain would adapt to the right and left hemispheres working independently. The patient now has two independent streams of consciousness. For example, if a split-brain patient is shown an image on the left side of their visual field they would not be able to name the image that was shown to them. This is because anything in the left field is sent to the right hemisphere of the brain. Speech is controlled in the left hemisphere of the brain. If the two hemispheres are no longer connected there is no way for the left hemisphere to know what information is being sent to the right hemisphere, so the patient would not be able to communicate what they are seeing. The previous stated example and Split-brain research in general also proves cortical lateralization because each side of the brain specializes in different tasks. The right and left brain hemispheres each have its own dominant

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