Editing Split-brain (section)

=== Corpus callosotomy ===

[[Corpus callosotomy]] is a surgical procedure that sections the corpus callosum, resulting in either the partial or complete disconnection between the two hemispheres. It is typically used as a last-resort measure in treatment of intractable [[epilepsy]]. The modern procedure typically involves only the anterior third of the corpus callosum; however, if the epileptic seizures continue, the following third is lesioned prior to the remaining third if the seizures persist. This results in a complete callosotomy in which most of the information transfer between hemispheres is lost.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Corpus Callosotomy: How it's Done, Risks & Benefits, Recovery, Outlook |url=https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/11546-corpus-callosotomy |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=Cleveland Clinic |language=en}}</ref>

Due to the functional mapping of the corpus callosum, a partial callosotomy has fewer detrimental effects because it leaves parts of the corpus callosum intact. There is little functional plasticity observed in partial and complete callosotomies on adults; the most neuroplasticity is seen in young children but not in infants.<ref name="Concha 2006 1090–1099">{{cite journal |last1=Concha |first1=Luis |first2=Donald |last2=Gross |first3=Matt |last3=Wheatley |first4=Christian |last4=Beaulieu |title=Diffusion Tensor Imaging of Time-Dependent Axonal and Myelin Degradation after Corpus Callosotomy in Epilepsy Patients|journal=NeuroImage |year=2006 |volume=32 |issue=3 |pages=1090–1099 |doi=10.1016/j.neuroimage.2006.04.187 |pmid=16765064 |s2cid=36514894}}</ref>

It is known that when the corpus callosum is severed during an experimental procedure, the experimenter can ask each side of the brain the same question and receive two different answers. When the experimenter asks the right visual field / left hemisphere what they see the participant will respond verbally, whereas if the experimenter asks the left visual field / right hemisphere what they see the participant will not be able to respond verbally but will pick up the appropriate object with their left hand.<ref>{{cite book |last=Raven |first=Peter |title=Biology |year=2014 |publisher=McGraw-Hill |location=New York |isbn=9780073383071}}</ref>