Split Brain Patient Flashcards, test questions and answers
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What is Split Brain Patient?
Split Brain is a condition in which the corpus callosum, a band of nerve fibers connecting the two hemispheres of the brain, is severed. It was first discovered in the 1950s by neurosurgeon Roger Sperry and his colleagues at Caltech. Split Brain patients have an altered mental state due to the disconnection between their left and right brain hemispheres. The effects of having a split brain vary from patient to patient, but generally speaking, it can cause disorientation, difficulty with communication and problem-solving tasks, and changes in behavior. Some patients may experience seizures or other physical symptoms as well. In some cases, split brain patients may not even be aware that their condition exists since they cannot consciously recognize differences between their two hemispheres. Split Brain patients are often studied by neurologists and psychologists in order to gain insight into how our brains function normally as well as insight into various neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease or schizophrenia. By studying these individuals we can learn more about how information is processed by each hemisphere of the brain and how communication between them works or fails when there is a disruption like this one caused by a split-brain patient. In some cases, Split Brain surgery can be beneficial for certain types of epilepsy or certain mental conditions; however, it should never be done lightly because it involves severing part of the brain which could lead to long term complications including memory loss and impaired cognitive abilities. It is important that any potential candidates for this type of surgery are carefully evaluated beforehand to ensure that they are truly benefiting from this treatment option before any irreversible damage occurs.