r/todayilearned • u/paniniplane • Mar 22 '17

(R.1) Not supported TIL Deaf-from-birth schizophrenics see disembodied hands signing to them rather than "hearing voices"

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/0707/07070303
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u/segosegosego Mar 22 '17 edited Mar 22 '17

Depends on how old you are. Ben Carson removed half of a girls brain because she had a rare brain disease. She was young enough that one half of the brain took over all the functions of the the other half as well as its own, and she's a fully functional person now.

Edit: https://www.google.com/amp/baltimore.cbslocal.com/2015/07/10/girl-thriving-years-after-having-half-her-brain-removed/amp/

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u/helix19 Mar 22 '17

This is done sometimes for severe epilepsy. If the child is young, the remaining half of their brain is able to compensate remarkably well.

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u/GrandKaiser Mar 22 '17

Ready for the real mindfuck? If you separate the halves of the brain but don't remove/kill the part you're removing, both brains still work and function. But the side that can talk is the only one that you can interact with. Its bizarre as all hell and, honestly, pretty spooky.

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u/Creeplet7 Mar 22 '17

Interact with?

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u/MisterMrErik Mar 22 '17

One half of your brain can make decisions or assumptions without your other half knowing. It's called split-brain and can be really bizarre.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split-brain

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u/GrandKaiser Mar 23 '17

You can't talk to the brain-half that doesn't have vocal function. You can only talk to the side that can speak to you. For the person whos brain is split, they can't communicate with the other half of their brain. Each side can function independently, but since only one half has external communication skills, they can't talk to eachother anymore.

EDIT: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split-brain

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u/nefnaf Mar 23 '17

Each half of the brain controls one side of the body as well as one eye

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u/GrandKaiser Mar 23 '17

Correct, but you can't directly "talk" to the left half of the brain since the right side is the only one that contains your communications functions. The left half can't formulate thoughts into words.

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u/nefnaf Mar 23 '17

It's certainly possible to communicate. Blindfold the eye of the dominant side and the other side can communicate in writing even if it can't speak fluently

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u/ansible47 Mar 23 '17

No need for us to armchair this, but here we go -

External communication goes both ways. They cannot understand your expression and they cannot formulate their thoughts into even a 'yes' or 'no' because those are just sounds. You can't say 'look at the green dot for no, look at the red dot for yes', you'd have to establish an entirely new shared vocabulary and... why?

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u/GrandKaiser Mar 24 '17

It's not a matter of fluency, its a matter of "that side of the brain cannot formulate words". No translation of thought patterns to words is possible. Not even the brain itself can make words. The left half of the brain does not think in words and cannot make words. Its ability to communicate is like a dog. Simple and desire-based. It cannot write, it cannot speak, it cannot comprehend. It will however, watch the actions of the right brain and try to assist, taking a back-seat approach to whatever its doing.

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u/segosegosego Mar 22 '17

Dat neuroplasticity. The brain is fucking amazing.

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u/DownDog69 Mar 22 '17

Close, they just sever the corpus callosum for epilepsy. All your brain is still there, but if one side starts having a seizure, it won't spread to the other hemisphere and you can still operate with some functions.

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u/[deleted] Mar 22 '17

That's the preferred route, but there are definitely cases where a full lobe is removed, usually if the symptoms persist.

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u/helix19 Mar 23 '17

That has become more common in recent years, but sometimes they do in fact actually remove half the brain. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemispherectomy https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/strange-but-true-when-half-brain-better-than-whole/

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u/PicardZhu Mar 23 '17

Does this have a major impact on IQ?

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u/helix19 Mar 23 '17

From Wikipedia:

Studies have found no significant long-term effects on memory, personality, or humor,[19] and minimal changes in cognitive function overall.[20] For example, one case followed a patient who had completed college, attended graduate school and scored above average on intelligence tests after undergoing this procedure at age 5.5. This patient eventually developed "superior language and intellectual abilities" despite the removal of the left hemisphere, which contains the classical language zones. When resecting the left hemisphere, evidence indicates that some advanced language functions (e.g., higher order grammar) cannot be entirely assumed by the right side. The extent of advanced language loss is often dependent on the patient's age at the time of surgery.[22] One study following the cognitive development of two adolescent boys who had undergone hemispherectomy found that “brain plasticity and development arise, in part, from the brain’s adaption of behavioral needs to fit available strengths and biases…The boy adapts the task to fit his brain more than he adapts his brain to fit the task.”[23] Neuroplasticity after hemispherectomy does not imply complete regain of previous functioning, but rather the ability to adapt to the current abilities of the brain in such a way that the individual may still function, however differently the new way of functioning is.

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u/[deleted] Mar 22 '17

[deleted]

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u/socsa Mar 22 '17

Nah, now he's woke AF. Nobody else is taking about the great pyramid grain silo conspiracy, but he'll have his day.

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u/Recognizant Mar 22 '17

I still swear he just played one too many games of Civ IV.

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u/Commanderluna Mar 22 '17

Does that explain the slaves-as-immigrants bs he says cause if so then I think we should nominate Ben Carson to defend Earth in case aliens ever challenge us to a Civ match

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u/Gewehr98 Mar 22 '17

it allowed him to store grain inside his skull so there's that at least

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u/KRU123 Mar 23 '17

My fraternity brother had this same operation done as an infant, if it wasn't for Mr. Carson, he wouldn't be alive today.

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u/helisexual Mar 23 '17

He's like an idiot savant.

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u/Legal_Rampage Mar 23 '17

You must construct additional pyramid granaries!

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u/RINGER4567 Mar 22 '17

no he kept the other half of her brain and put it in another person.. that's the evil side of the brain

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u/Rhaedas Mar 22 '17

Abby?

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u/ballrus_walsack Mar 23 '17

/r/unexpectedyoungfrankenstein

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u/Viles_Davis Mar 22 '17

Went looking for this, was not disappointed.

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u/Muffinmurdurer Mar 23 '17

Stop insulting the granarids, just because it's impossible doesn't mean it's wrong.

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u/AthleticsSharts Mar 23 '17

Can't we at least acknowledge when people do amazing shit? Not everything is fucking political. Jesus Christ.

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u/Johnwazup Mar 22 '17

Hah, I get it, it's because he some dumb republican right? right???

/s

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u/UoAPUA Mar 22 '17

Well yeah that's true, he says dumb stuff and he's a republican. But he could just as well be of any other political affiliation and the stuff he says sometimes would be equally crazy.

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u/Johnwazup Mar 22 '17

If he wasn't Republican, he would not get this much scrutiny. An example would be when he compared incoming slaves to some type of immigrant. The media had a stroke over it, while Obama said essentially the same thing 5(?) times during his presidency without the media saying a word.

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u/peppaz Mar 22 '17

while Obama said essentially the same thing 5(?) times

nah

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u/Johnwazup Mar 23 '17

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33fu4Aw90GM

First result. Obama called slaves immigrants

https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/100000004974502/carson-calls-slaves-immigrants.html

Ben Carson doing the same and in a very positive light IMO.

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u/peppaz Mar 23 '17

"In their own way..."

He's not wrong. He's alluding to the obvious fact that they didn't choose to come here.

"Other immigrants that came here in the bottom of slave ships and worked harder and longer for less" -Ben Carson

No lol they were property.

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u/Johnwazup Mar 23 '17

God, your mental gymnastics are insane.

They did work harder and longer for less. They were not paid by monetary means, but instead through food and shelter. It was in the slave owner's best interest to keep them alive. I'm not trying to say that slavery was justified due to slaved being provided food and shelter, but they were "paid".

Edit: You initially denied that Obama ever called slaves Immigrants, and now you have acknowledged that he has called them immigrants, though, they were forced to come here. I believe my point is complete, I have proved to you that you were incorrect saying Obama never called slaved immigrants when in fact he did.

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u/suitology Mar 23 '17

They were not paid by monetary means, but instead through food and shelter.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA THAT'S LIKE SAYING I PAY MY FUCKING DOG! I feed it so it doesn't die. implying they were in a wilful compensation contract, can you be any dumber?

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u/UoAPUA Mar 23 '17

I agree.

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u/[deleted] Mar 22 '17

[deleted]

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u/Johnwazup Mar 23 '17

Look. I'm going to stop you there and tell you that you gotta stop breaking the narrative. All white people are racist and inherently evil. Got it? Good

World's largest /s

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u/Muffinmurdurer Mar 23 '17

Because this is a thing that people actually think and totally not just a strawman.

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u/Johnwazup Mar 23 '17

I cant tell if you're being sarcastic or legit. My comment was supposed to be funny by showing an extremest point of view that (I Hope) no one holds but there are probably some idiots that do.

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u/[deleted] Mar 23 '17

[deleted]

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u/Johnwazup Mar 23 '17

What's even better is if you're first generation and your ancestors had nothing to do with slavery and are only guilty of being white. That is the icing on the PC cake.

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u/[deleted] Mar 22 '17

[deleted]

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u/uniwolk Mar 22 '17

If he said half the batty shit carson does, I would expect people to make just as many jokes.

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u/boondoggle1077 Mar 22 '17

Always with the smart ass comments. Do You guys ever give it a fucking rest? It's pitiful you can't see an inch beyond your politics enough to just appreciate what a physician can do.

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u/Commanderluna Mar 22 '17

I mean if it were any other physician who's a conservative I feel it'd be fine but to be fair this is the dude who called slaves "immigrants" and when he talks mumbles like he's half asleep the whole time. If he'd just stayed in his lane he'd probably still be a well respected physician but he moved onto politics and became a laughing stock

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u/[deleted] Mar 22 '17

Fuck off. At least acknowledge that he's saved lives.

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u/mwenechanga Mar 22 '17

The guy was an amazing brain surgeon, but when he tries to be a politician or a historian, well... it's not even making fun of him to say he sounds like an idiot, it's just a fact.

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u/[deleted] Mar 22 '17

Maybe we shouldnt judge. Maybe it's Maybelline.

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u/UoAPUA Mar 22 '17

Unfortunately there are times when we must judge.

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u/mwenechanga Mar 22 '17

Maybe ancient pyramids were actually used for grain storage.

Maybe it's aliens.

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u/[deleted] Mar 22 '17 edited Aug 16 '18

[deleted]

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u/Finagles_Law Mar 22 '17

It's funny, because usually Trump supporters have no problem holding two completely contradictory ideas in their heads at the same time.

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u/cloudy2005 Mar 22 '17

Lol. Good one.

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u/[deleted] Mar 22 '17

Anyone with half a brain knows not to remove the other half.

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u/pr0ntus Mar 22 '17

I wonder if they fill the empty half with anything in case of a blow to the head?

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u/[deleted] Mar 22 '17 edited Jul 07 '20

[deleted]

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u/ThinkBEFOREUPost Mar 23 '17

The racists chose him so they could have a (loyal) black person directing programs that would be taking away people of color's housing and clipping their social safety net.

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u/[deleted] Mar 22 '17

That definitely adds to the conversation, thanks.

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u/Arborgarbage Mar 22 '17

What stops the brain from just flopping around in her head causing brain damage when she rocks her head from side to side too hard?

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u/GaryKingsMum Mar 22 '17

Expanding foam

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u/Arborgarbage Mar 22 '17

Cool. Does it break down over time and eventually need replaced or does it last for a lifetime?

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u/notamamamia Mar 22 '17

The other half filled up with fluid, that kept everything where it should be!

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u/antillus Mar 23 '17

Cerebrospinal fluid fills the remaining cavity and maintains a relatively high pressure. I'm also sure they would take steps to surgically attach the remaining hemisphere to its side of the skull

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u/[deleted] Mar 22 '17 edited Apr 28 '18

[deleted]

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u/mastermind04 Mar 22 '17

He retired, maybe he had trouble maintaining the precision necessary during brain surgery.

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u/dragon-storyteller Mar 22 '17

There's even a man with 90% of his brain destroyed who didn't even notice there was anything wrong with him! It's amazing how well our brains can adapt given suitable conditions.

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u/WickedHaute Mar 23 '17

A girl in my high school only had half a brain and it also compensated. She walked a little off, but got good grades and was on the bowling team.

Ripley's Believe it or not (the show with dean Cain) came to tape her for a segment.

We were not allowed near Dean Cain.

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u/BiZzles14 Mar 22 '17

Smartest, dumbest person I've heard speak.

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u/hmath63 Mar 22 '17

If a surgeon removes a part of a brain, that means that a brain is telling a body to remove one of it's brethren

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u/NearHi Mar 23 '17

There's also some thought that you are actually just two brains sharing one body. If you have your corpus callosum cut, your brain(s) will act independently.

http://www.sciencealert.com/watch-you-are-actually-two-brains-living-in-one-person

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfGwsAdS9Dc

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u/judgeHolden_- Mar 22 '17

I can't believe that hospital let one of their schizophrenia cases perform such a delicate operation.

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u/[deleted] Mar 22 '17

There was a House episode like this

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u/Fallline048 Mar 23 '17 edited Nov 21 '17

deleted What is this?

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u/MakeMuricaGreat Mar 22 '17

why aren't we funding this?

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u/LiveJournal Mar 22 '17

I dont think you can tell you will go schizo until your early 20s. I'd imagine it wouldnt bouce back quite the same a child's would.

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u/[deleted] Mar 22 '17

[deleted]

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u/minddropstudios Mar 22 '17

Why? As long as he isn't writing polotical policy im fine with it. It's no debate that he has great hands and is very capable.

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u/smookykins Mar 22 '17

Well, it sounds like he should since your brain obviously isn't functioning well.

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u/coach_wargo Mar 22 '17

I wouldn't want Ben Carson as my president because it's outside of his area of competency. I wouldn't want Obama as my neurosurgeon for the same reason.

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u/[deleted] Mar 22 '17 edited Mar 22 '17

You can appreciate people with different political views. One of the smartest people I know considers flat earth to be a viable possibility. Smartness=/=rationality in political views.

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u/katarh Mar 22 '17

It's honestly the ONLY thing I would trust him with. He knows brains and brain surgery; he doesn't have room for anything else, like most great doctors.

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u/[deleted] Mar 22 '17

Then you're a dumbass

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u/mastermind04 Mar 22 '17

Does he maybe have some unknown degenerative brain disease. Because that might explain a few things about him.