Split brain

This article covers Split Brain in brain research. For the status of cluster systems of the same name in computer science, see Split Brain (computer science) .

Corpus callosum (19), frontal section

Split Brain ( English : split brain ) referred to in the medicine the state after neurosurgical transection of the corpus callosum which the two hemispheres together.

The procedure is called a callosotomy . It is rarely used today as a last resort in the treatment of epilepsy . The purpose of cutting the corpus callosum is to prevent seizures from spreading from one hemisphere of the brain to the other. As a result, the risk of falls and resulting injuries is reduced. In particular, the frequency of tonic, atonic and secondary generalized tonic-clonic seizures can be significantly reduced by this operation.

The patients showed no abnormalities in their natural surroundings. The missing connection between the left and right hemispheres can still be proven experimentally: If split-brain patients show an object in the left field of vision (more precisely: on the right halves of the retina of both eyes), they cannot name it. This is because for most people the language center is in the left hemisphere. However, the information from the left visual field is only sent to the right hemisphere. Because of the severed bar, both hemispheres cannot communicate with each other in split-brain patients. As a result, the information that is processed in the right hemisphere is not available to the language center. However, those affected are able to grasp an object of the same type with the left hand controlled by the right hemisphere.

This symptom does not appear if the bar is missing due to a congenital malformation of the brain. In this case one speaks of a corpus callosum agenesis .

Important researchers in the field of the split brain were Joseph Bogen , Roger Sperry and Michael Gazzaniga .

Web links

• Flash game with split-brain experiments on the homepage of the Nobel Prize organization
• Page on epilepsy surgery of the Epilepsy Center of the University of Erlangen
• "Split brain behavioral experiments" - Video on YouTube with Michael Gazzaniga (English)
• "Early Split Brain Research Gazzaniga" - Video on YouTube with Michael Gazzaniga (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Fuiks et al .: Seizure outcome from anterior and complete corpus callosotomy. In: J Neurosurg . , 1991 Oct, PMID 2002370
2. ↑ Oguni et al .: Anterior callosotomy in the treatment of medically intractable epilepsies: a study of 43 patients with a mean follow-up of 39 months. In: Ann Neurol ., 1991 Sep, PMID 1952824
3. ↑ Michael Gazzaniga : Right and Left Brain: Split-Brain and Consciousness. Spectrum of Science , December 1, 1998, accessed September 2, 2010 . 
4. ^ What is agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC)? University of Maine (College of Education and Human Development), accessed September 2, 2010 . 

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !