Let's Split! How the Effects of a Hemispherectomy of the Right Side of the Brain Compares to the Removal of the Left Side
Abstract
Abstract
The “let’s split” project explores how a hemispherectomy of the left side of the brain affects personality and development, compared to removal of the right side of the brain. As a secondary research project, the project will explain the importance of each side of the brain and the common results of a hemispherectomy on either side. A hemispherectomy is a rare treatment in which a cerebral hemisphere of the brain is removed as a result of frequent seizures or epilepsy. While the prognosis of this treatment is good, it remains a last resort. Young patients are able to improve dramatically after the treatment, however there are some complications. Primarily, as a result of the hemispherectomy, patients always suffer from paralysis on the side of the body opposite from the removed hemisphere. Furthermore, the older the patient is, the less likely the brain can transfer over the information from one side of the brain to the other effectively. By studying these issues, however, this project can discover how the issues correlate with the right or left side of the brain respectively. With this information, neurologists and other healthcare professionals may be able to increase the quality of healthcare delivery for these patients.
Keywords: [hemispherectomy, correlate, cerebral, paralysis, epilepsy]
Let's Split! How the Effects of a Hemispherectomy of the Right Side of the Brain Compares to the Removal of the Left Side
Conference Room D
Abstract
The “let’s split” project explores how a hemispherectomy of the left side of the brain affects personality and development, compared to removal of the right side of the brain. As a secondary research project, the project will explain the importance of each side of the brain and the common results of a hemispherectomy on either side. A hemispherectomy is a rare treatment in which a cerebral hemisphere of the brain is removed as a result of frequent seizures or epilepsy. While the prognosis of this treatment is good, it remains a last resort. Young patients are able to improve dramatically after the treatment, however there are some complications. Primarily, as a result of the hemispherectomy, patients always suffer from paralysis on the side of the body opposite from the removed hemisphere. Furthermore, the older the patient is, the less likely the brain can transfer over the information from one side of the brain to the other effectively. By studying these issues, however, this project can discover how the issues correlate with the right or left side of the brain respectively. With this information, neurologists and other healthcare professionals may be able to increase the quality of healthcare delivery for these patients.
Keywords: [hemispherectomy, correlate, cerebral, paralysis, epilepsy]