Mind Blown

Half our brain could be surgically removed without adverse effects on our personality, memory or humour.

The human brain is often described as the most complex thing in the universe. It's the command centre for our bodies, telling us how to move, regulating our heartbeat and breathing, and sending us to sleep. It also stores our memories, handles our emotions, forms our personalities and allows us to have independent thoughts. It's our window and filter to receive and interpret information from the world around us. The brain is pretty awesome!

All these amazing actions are carried out through an intricate network of billions of nerve cells, called neurons, which transmit millions of electrical signals.

We know more about the brain now than ever, but it remains one of our greatest mysteries. No one knows, for instance, why we can remove half of it and carry on without adverse effects.

Hemispherectomy, the operation to remove, disconnect or disable half a brain, is a legitimate medical procedure. Astonishingly, this invasive surgery can be performed with no significant long-term effect on memory, personality or humour!

Hemispherectomies are used to treat a variety of seizure disorders localised to a single hemisphere of the brain. It's reserved for the most extreme cases, people whose severe and debilitating seizures don't respond to medications or less invasive surgeries. The procedure has a history of successfully curing seizures in between 85% and 90% of patients.

Reassuringly, hemispherectomies have evolved over the years. Sufferers no longer have to sacrifice half their brain. Thanks to modern medical developments, seizure relief can be achieved with minimal brain tissue removal. Phew!