Man with 90% of brain missing lives normal life, challenges consciousness theories
By
thunderbong
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Summary
A 44-year-old French man who functions normally despite missing 90% of his brain has puzzled scientists and fueled radical theories about consciousness. The case, first documented in The Lancet in 2007, shows the man has normal intelligence, works as a civil servant, and lives a typical life despite having only 10% of his brain tissue remaining. Cognitive psychologist Axel Cleeremans explains how this challenges traditional views of brain function and suggests consciousness may be more flexible and distributed than previously thought.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledThe case of a man who is still able to function even though most of his brain is missing, has given fuel to radical theories about consciousness.
These scans of a French man's brain were published in The Lancet in 2007. Since then, this case has puzzled researchers, including cognitive psychologist Axel Cleeremans.
When a 44-year-old man from France went to the doctor complaining of mild weakness in his left leg, doctors discovered something astonishing: his brain was missing about 90 percent of its tissue.
The man has normal intelligence, works as a civil servant, is married with two children, and lives a completely typical life.
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