Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: steelgraham on 25/07/2007 19:31:36

Title: Brain of a white-collar worker
Post by: steelgraham on 25/07/2007 19:31:36

There was a very interesting article in last Friday's New Scientist which caught the attention of many, myself included:- http://www.newscientist.com:80/article/dn12301-man-with-tiny-brain-shocks-doctors.html (http://www.newscientist.com:80/article/dn12301-man-with-tiny-brain-shocks-doctors.html) I've not been on this forum for a few years so apologise if someone has already posted about this !!!

After contacting the Author of the Lancet Paper, the Lancet emailed me the PDF. This was simply a letter and the New Scientist article is actually more informative than what was published in the Lancet itself.

I alerted a few Neurologists (who I know) about the New Scientist article and here's what one of them said:- "I have had similar experience of a high functioning legal secretary with similar appearances of gross hydrocephalus.
I suppose intelect is relatively preserved because it is the white matter that is most reduced and the outer mantle of grey matter relatively preserved."  

All very interesting me thinks.

The large black space shows the fluid that replaced much of the patient’s brain (left). For comparison, the images (right) show a typical brain without any abnormalities (Images: Feuillet et al./The Lancet)

Title: Brain of a white-collar worker
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 25/07/2007 22:42:25

When I was but a humble undergrad I remember reading a paper about a man who had lost about half of his brain in an accident. Although he nearly died from his injuries he did recover and after a few years he was able to function almost normally.

It was a long time ago that I read the paper & I can't remember the exact details, but I believe his speech remained slightly impaired and 1 of his arms didn't work properly; but apart from that he was normal.

Title: Brain of a white-collar worker
Post by: paul.fr on 26/07/2007 09:56:11

Isn't there a medical procedure where the cut the connection between the two halfs of the brain?

Title: Brain of a white-collar worker
Post by: another_someone on 26/07/2007 10:24:01

Quote from: paul.fr on 26/07/2007 09:56:11

Isn't there a medical procedure where the cut the connection between the two halfs of the brain?

Yes - it was used to treat epilepsy, but I believe is rarely used these days.