What Is a Functional Hemispherectomy?
The largest part of the brain, the cerebrum, can be divided down the middle lengthwise into two halves, called hemispheres. A deep groove splits the left and right hemispheres, which communicate through a thick band of nerve fibers called the corpus callosum. Each hemisphere is further divided into four paired sections, called lobes — the frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes. The two different sides or hemispheres are responsible for different types of thinking. Most individuals have a distinct preference for one of these styles of thinking and tend to have one side of the brain function much more than others. For example, left hemisphere thinkers are logical, analytical, objective, while right hemisphere thinkers are intuitive, creative, subjective, holistic thinkers. A functional hemispherectomy is a procedure in which portions of one hemisphere — which is used the least — are removed, and the corpus callosum is cut. This disconnects communication between the two hemis
