This is because the image seen in the left visual field is sent only to the right side of the brain (see optic tract), and most people's speech-control center is on the left side of the brain. When split-brain patients are shown an image only in the left half of each eye's visual field, they cannot vocally name what they have seen. If a conflict arises, one hemisphere usually overrides the other. He also reported to have grabbed his wife with his left hand and shaken her violently, at which point his right hand came to her aid and grabbed the aggressive left hand. When one split-brain patient dressed himself, he sometimes pulled his pants up with one hand (that side of his brain wanted to get dressed) and down with the other (this side did not).
Having two "brains" in one body can create some interesting dilemmas. After surgery, neuropsychological assessments are often performed.Īfter the right and left brain are separated, each hemisphere will have its own separate perception, concepts, and impulses to act. Before using callosotomies, epilepsy is instead treated through pharmaceutical means. Initially, partial callosotomies are performed if this operation does not succeed, a complete callosotomy is performed to mitigate the risk of accidental physical injury by reducing the severity and violence of epileptic seizures. The surgical operation to produce this condition ( corpus callosotomy) involves transection of the corpus callosum, and is usually a last resort to treat refractory epilepsy. It is an association of symptoms produced by disruption of, or interference with, the connection between the hemispheres of the brain. Split-brain or callosal syndrome is a type of disconnection syndrome when the corpus callosum connecting the two hemispheres of the brain is severed to some degree. For the phenomenon in computing, see Split-brain (computing). This article is about the human brain condition.