Can a severed brain remain conscious? — Scientific American Consciousness researchers studying “islands of awareness” have found that disconnected brains likely sink into a strange form of deep sleep What would it feel like to be a brain in a vat? If you had n...

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#hemispherotomy
#consciousness
#slow-waves
#fMRI #EEG

This metaphorical illustration reimagines a hidden view of the brain of a patient with hemispherotomy. In the absence of subcortical activating inputs, the disconnected cortex defaults to a sleep-like state, marked by slow-wave EEG activity and here evocatively represented as night. By contrast, the intact hemisphere, still integrated with subcortical structures, sustains wakefulness and a bright inner world capable of environmental interaction, reflected in faster EEG rhythms. The image underscores the divergence of cortical states after hemispheric isolation. The image was created by Michele A. Colombo, the first author of the paper, through digital photo manipulation combining drawings with real neuroimaging and electrophysiological data.

#Hemispherotomy is a surgical treatment for #epilepsy by disconnecting a portion of the #cortex. Michele Colombo, Jacopo Favaro, @anilseth.bsky.social, Marcello Massimini &co show that the isolated cortex has #EEG patterns resembling deep #sleep or #anesthesia @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/3J9ci8X

This metaphorical illustration reimagines a hidden view of the brain of a patient with hemispherotomy. In the absence of subcortical activating inputs, the disconnected cortex defaults to a sleep-like state, marked by slow-wave EEG activity and here evocatively represented as night. By contrast, the intact hemisphere, still integrated with subcortical structures, sustains wakefulness and a bright inner world capable of environmental interaction, reflected in faster EEG rhythms. The image underscores the divergence of cortical states after hemispheric isolation. The image was created by Michele A. Colombo, the first author of the paper, through digital photo manipulation combining drawings with real neuroimaging and electrophysiological data.

#Hemispherotomy is a surgical treatment for #epilepsy by disconnecting a portion of the #cortex. Michele Colombo, Jacopo Favaro, @anilseth.bsky.social, Marcello Massimini &co show that the isolated cortex has #EEG patterns resembling deep #sleep or #anesthesia @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/3J9ci8X

The study examined the electrophysiological state of the isolated cortex in pediatric patients who had undergone #hemispherotomy, a procedure that disconnects one side of the brain to treat severe #epilepsy.

This metaphorical illustration reimagines a hidden view of the brain of a patient with hemispherotomy. In the absence of subcortical activating inputs, the disconnected cortex defaults to a sleep-like state, marked by slow-wave EEG activity and here evocatively represented as night. By contrast, the intact hemisphere, still integrated with subcortical structures, sustains wakefulness and a bright inner world capable of environmental interaction, reflected in faster EEG rhythms. The image underscores the divergence of cortical states after hemispheric isolation. The image was created by Michele A. Colombo, the first author of the paper, through digital photo manipulation combining drawings with real neuroimaging and electrophysiological data.

#Hemispherotomy is a surgical treatment for #epilepsy by disconnecting a portion of the #cortex. @anilseth.bsky.social &co show that the isolated cortex has #EEG patterns resembling deep #sleep or #anesthesia, with slow oscillations & reduced spectral exponent @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/3J9ci8X

Key point: Seizure freedom was achieved in 84% of patients, but 51% had severe intellectual impairments.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

#epilepsy #ILAE #epilepsia #Antiseizuremedication #ASM #Hemispherotomy #MRIabnormalities #Polymicrogyria #Seizurefreedom