5 ms·
> But without the corpus callosum the hemispheres have virtually no means of exchanging information They can communicate physically though. Each half of the br
by have_faith 9y ago
> But without the corpus callosum the hemispheres have virtually no means of exchanging information
They can communicate physically though. Each half of the brain can access the eyes and control various parts of the body, they could make the body do things that they could see/hear in order to act as a basic messaging channel. The conscious part of the brain could be completely oblivious to these subtle physical channels.
- d33 9y agoNot sure what would be the evolutionary purpose of that. I doubt that many of our ancestors survived brain split and managed to reproduce in order to pass the genes, so having that feature would probably mean it's necessary for something else... sounds like a long shot for me though.
- AnIdiotOnTheNet 9y agoI think what is being suggested is not that it is a special function that only occurs in the case of the corpus callosum being split, but that these other communication channels are always operating regardless and the corpus callosum is specialized channel for certain kinds of information. Speculating based on the article, one would suspect that it allows for fast integration of visual information, but that other integrations rely on other, probably slower, channels.
- bencollier49 9y agoThe Corpus Callosum isn't the only interhemispheric commissure though, there are several more. The anterior and posterior commissures, as well as the Fornix etc.
- mfoy_ 9y agoIt's also well known that when one part of the brain dies, other parts will step up to assume its responsibilities. So it's not inconceivable that there is some flexibility there.
- cma 9y agoOver specializing in order to not have that feature might not be something we evolved for either. Not having it might take more work than having it.
- mannykannot 9y agoIt does not have to have an evolutionary purpose - it could easily be an accidental feature of a design that does have evolutionary purpose.
- zwischenzug 9y agoI am completely ignorant of anatomy, but isn't the 'brain' still 'joined' at the spinal column? Could communication be going on in there?