Blog Post #3 - Part 2

I've learned about several things in this chapter. First of all I learned that parts of the brain can be surgically separated and even removed without having any serious neurological effects. I thought it was simply amazing that an individual can function without a whole hemisphere of their brain! I always believed that our brain was so extremely delicate and important (which it still is) that any slight bump or surgical puncture would one hundred percent kill an individual or at least damage them to a point at which they would not want to live.

I also enjoyed learning what each part of the brain controls. Since I've learned this, every time someone (or even myself) does or says something I always find myself thinking of how and what parts of the brain are functioning to make the individual say or do what they do. I also found it extremely interesting that electrodes or touching parts of the brain can make you feel, see, hear, smell, taste, or say something that did not actually take place or happen. I did not realize that this could be done.

Before I read this chapter I had heard about "phantom" feelings of amputated body parts, but I was so dumbfounded at how such a thing could be. Now that I understand the biology of the mind, the concept makes total sense to me. I also found it interesting to learn what happens when people have seizures and how to easily cure them. I am fortunate to learn these things now because I am pursuing a career in veterinary medicine. I feel smart when I realize the problem and (in my mind at my education level) realize a possible treatment route for the animal.

The video of "The Man with Two Brains" was extremely interesting. I liked it a lot because splitting brains as a cure for epilepsy was introduced and discussed in this chapter, but instead of simply reading about the topic, I was actually able to see what it was like through the video. The final experiment was the one that blew my mind away the most because I believe it had the most real life application. Though I do wonder how much a split brain can affect some one's life. Do you always have to read recipe directions with your left eye so that your hands will go on with the process of cooking? I understand the concept, but it is still quite mind boggling at how much it affects every day tasks.