Editing Split-brain (section)

=== Kim Peek ===

[[Kim Peek]]<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Treffert |first1=D. A. |last2=Christensen |first2=D. D. | year = 2006 | title = Inside the mind of a savant | journal = Scientific American Mind | volume = 17 | issue = 3| pages = 52–55 | doi = 10.1038/scientificamericanmind0606-50 |s2cid=1844071 }}</ref> was arguably the most well-known [[savant syndrome|savant]]. He was born on November 11, 1951, with an enlarged head, [[encephalocele|sac-like protrusions]] of the brain and the membranes that cover it through openings in the skull, a malformed [[cerebellum]], and without a corpus callosum, an anterior commissure, or a posterior commissure. He was able to memorize over 9,000 books, and information from approximately 15 subject areas. These include: world/American history, sports, movies, geography, actors and actresses, the Bible, church history, literature, classical music, area codes/zip codes of the United States, television stations serving these areas, and step-by-step directions within any major U.S. city. Despite these abilities, he had an IQ of 87, was diagnosed as autistic, was unable to button his shirt, and had difficulties performing everyday tasks. The missing structures of his brain have yet to be linked to his increased abilities, but they can be linked to his ability to read pages of a book in 8–10 seconds. He was able to view the left page of a book with his left visual field and the right page of a book with his right visual fields so he could read both pages simultaneously.<ref name="psychologytoday.com">{{cite web |last=Brogaard |first=B. |date=November 6, 2012 |title=The superhuman mind: Split brains |access-date=April 26, 2014 |website=Psychology Today |url=http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-superhuman-mind/201211/split-brains}}</ref> He also had developed language areas in both hemispheres, something very uncommon in split-brain patients. [[Language]]<ref name="psychologytoday.com"/> is processed in areas of the left temporal lobe, and involves a [[contralateral]] transfer of information before the brain can process what is being read. In Peek's case, there was no transfer ability—this is what led to his development of language centers in each hemisphere. 

Although Peek did not undergo corpus callosotomy, he is considered a natural split-brain patient and is critical to understanding the importance of the corpus callosum. Kim Peek died in 2009.<ref name="psychologytoday.com"/>