The split Brain

The split Brain

• How many brains do we actually have?

• Left and right hemisphere controll different areas of our concious

• Hemispheres cummunicate using the Corpus collosum and the anterior commissure

Split Brain Surgery

• The corpus callosum is severed to hinder communication between the two hemispheres

• Used as a last resort to treat epilepsy

• Does not remove brain tissue

Split Brain Syndrome

• Ater surgery the hemispheres do not exchange information

• Causes patient to suffer from split brain syndrome

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCv4K5aStdU

Roger Sperry

”Hemisphere deconnection and unity in conscious awareness”

(1968)

Aim

• Investigate the effects of hemisphere deconnection and to show that each hemisphere has different functions.

Method• A HANDFUL of patients underwent

hemispheric deconnection to reduce crippling epilepsy.

• NATURAL Experiment.• SEVERING of corpus callosum.

Procedure

• Would show different things for each eye.

Results

Results

Why is Split Brain surgery used?

What is Split Brain surgery? ..“Split-brain surgery, also known as corpus callosotomy, is a medical procedure that involves the severing of the corpus callosum, which connects the two hemispheres of the brain, to treat epilepsy. Unlike other epilepsy-treating procedures, a callosotomy does not involve the removal of any brain tissue.”

Why is it used? Split brain surgery was first used on humans as a form of an experiment treatment. The experiment was solely for people who suffered from epilepsy whose seizures were ineffective to the help of drugs or other treatment.

Short History

The idea of the “split brain” was first stumbled upon by Roger Sperry and Ronald Meyers during the late 1950’s. It’s been said that they were working in a laboratory at the time of the discovery. Before any newly discovered medical procedure is incorporated in human testing, Sperry and Meyers first began their early experiments on animals. Such as cats then developing on to study monkeys. In 1961 their research took a serious turn, they had their first human patient to undergo split brain surgery.