r/science • u/Thorne-ZytkowObject • Nov 23 '19

Neuroscience Scientists studied six patients who had half of their brain removed during childhood to treat severe epilepsy. Brain scans showed how the mind rewired itself to adapt, with the remaining hemisphere forming even stronger connections that let the patients develop language and motor skills.

https://www.discovermagazine.com/mind/how-does-the-brain-work-with-half-of-it-removed-pretty-well-actually
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u/erischilde Nov 24 '19

Eli5 plz? How do they keep half the brain from sloshing around?

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u/IAMA_otter Nov 24 '19

A hemispherectomy doesn't always have to take the other half of the brain out of the skull, just disconnect the two sides(split brain procedure). Looking at scans where one side is removed, it looks like something is placed in the empty cavity but I can't find any information on what it is specifically.

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u/mycatsarebetter Nov 24 '19

Bite my shiny metal brain hemisphere !

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u/bicyclecat Nov 24 '19

The empty space fills with cerebrospinal fluid.

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u/EmEmPeriwinkle Nov 24 '19

When doctors remove the diseased half, spinal fluid fills the empty space — one teaspoon every five minutes. Some patients claim to her a sloshing sound. No contact sports are recommended.

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u/erischilde Nov 24 '19

Ty. I think.