Recently, Nova released a short film with the intriguing name “is Human Brain Actually Two Minds? “ (” Does our brain actually hide two minds? “). This 5-minute tape, aired on May 17, 2023, affects a much more controversial topic than talk about the differences between the right and left hemispheres of the brain.
The main thesis that is discussed in the NOVA program sounds very provocatively: “The phenomenon of the split brain leads scientists to the idea of the possible existence of two separate consciousnesses inside one skull.” In the video, neurobiologists Michael Miller and Michael Gazzaniga from the University of California at Santa Barbar are shared by their opinion.
And really, the hypothesis sounds extremely interesting, but a logical question arises: do we have enough evidence for such bold conclusions?
The syndrome of the split brain occurs after callozotomy – a surgical procedure used in severe forms of epilepsy. Neurosurgeons dissect a corpus callosum – a bunch of nerve fibers connecting the right and left hemispheres. Thus, it is possible to limit the spread of an epileptic attack and, therefore, reduce the intensity of seizures.
After surgery, patients usually return to an almost normal life. Interestingly, in this case, they do not have signs of a split personality. However, hemispheres cease to effectively exchange information, and each half of the brain function relatively autonomously. The left hemisphere usually is responsible for speech and logical thinking, and the right – for the spatial perception and intuition. The patient may face a situation where one hand performs actions contrary to the intentions of the other hand, or when the information processed by one hemisphere (for example, a person sees something) cannot be verbalized, since speech is controlled by another department.
It is important to note that the hypothesis of two minds concerns not only patients after surgery, but potentially all people. As its supporters believe, separation can exist in the brain of every person, it simply becomes more noticeable after surgical intervention.
Michael Egnor, a neurosurgeon from the University of Stonei Brook, who has experience in such operations, claims: “Over the years of practice, I have observed many patients with a split brain, and I can say that these are completely ordinary people. When you communicate with them, they The patients themselves do not feel the impressions of the personality, they also have two different people, they