Split Brain
Split-Brain Patients: The independent functioning of the left and right hemisphere when no longer connected by the corpus callosum.
The human brain is a dynamic and elastic processing unit that manages the great extent of human life. This entails both conscious and unconscious functioning of each human system. For example, the brain controls emotions through behaviors, physiological responses (both autonomic and hormonal), and feelings in response to stimuli from the environment (Carlson, 2011). The human brain is constructed of two major hemispheres, each linked to functional processing of opposite sides of the body. The two hemispheres are linked by a dense bundle of nerves referred to as the corpus callosum, or “hard-skinned body.” Though, the human brain should not be thought of as two dependent hemispheres connected by a bridge of dense neuronal fibers because even when the bridge is cut each hemisphere is able to perform independent of the other. Each hemisphere has its own distinct characteristics and specialized abilities, as demonstrated by split-brain patients who have had their corpus callosum severed, in most cases to alleviate extreme epilepsy (Bainbridge, 2008). Split-brain patients show surprising responses to experiments designed to isolate each hemisphere to process information on its own; such experiments have uncovered that while the human brain has specialized interworking parts, the left hemisphere is the literal, talkative side while the right hemisphere interprets information in a more relational manner and is unable to verbalize. Maurice Ravel, a famous composer, suffered a stroke in 1933. As a result of his stroke, Ravel found himself unable to compose music. Worse, Ravel’s ability to enjoy music was in no way compensated and he could still dream up his music ideas, but was unable to transfer any idea from thought to paper. Ravel could no longer write or perform his musical genius. Neurologists believe Ravel’s stroke disabled
The human brain is a dynamic and elastic processing unit that manages the great extent of human life. This entails both conscious and unconscious functioning of each human system. For example, the brain controls emotions through behaviors, physiological responses (both autonomic and hormonal), and feelings in response to stimuli from the environment (Carlson, 2011). The human brain is constructed of two major hemispheres, each linked to functional processing of opposite sides of the body. The two hemispheres are linked by a dense bundle of nerves referred to as the corpus callosum, or “hard-skinned body.” Though, the human brain should not be thought of as two dependent hemispheres connected by a bridge of dense neuronal fibers because even when the bridge is cut each hemisphere is able to perform independent of the other. Each hemisphere has its own distinct characteristics and specialized abilities, as demonstrated by split-brain patients who have had their corpus callosum severed, in most cases to alleviate extreme epilepsy (Bainbridge, 2008). Split-brain patients show surprising responses to experiments designed to isolate each hemisphere to process information on its own; such experiments have uncovered that while the human brain has specialized interworking parts, the left hemisphere is the literal, talkative side while the right hemisphere interprets information in a more relational manner and is unable to verbalize. Maurice Ravel, a famous composer, suffered a stroke in 1933. As a result of his stroke, Ravel found himself unable to compose music. Worse, Ravel’s ability to enjoy music was in no way compensated and he could still dream up his music ideas, but was unable to transfer any idea from thought to paper. Ravel could no longer write or perform his musical genius. Neurologists believe Ravel’s stroke disabled
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