• BluesF@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    The only thing I can think of that this could refer to is split brain patients who have undergone a specific medial procedure once used to treat epilepsy. It’s possible, although not well understood, that the two halves of their brain operate sort of independently, and only one has access to speech.

    It’s a very interesting topic, well worth diving into! But it’s also very muddy, there is contrasting evidence for and against the “two mind” theory.

    Anyway, I’m fairly certain this “theory” does not apply to healthy brains which have not undergone this procedure.

    • Queen HawlSera@lemm.ee
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      6 months ago

      I heard that that was a misunderstanding, and the two halves of the brain are still the same entity, but with more limited ability to communicate

      • BluesF@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        If you’re interested I highly recommend this evidence review on the topic. I don’t remember the details but there does remain some compelling evidence for both sides. It seems like the two halves are able to communicate in some ways, but not in others. It’s not fully clear if this means there are two distinct consciousnesses, or if they continue to operate as one.

        • Queen HawlSera@lemm.ee
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          6 months ago

          Well I’ll be, still I think “Still continue to operate as one” makes less assumptions, we barely know consciousness is even real to begin with, how can we confidently say that it’s like an infinitely dividable amoeba of some kind? I guess I’ll check the link.

          • BluesF@lemmy.world
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            6 months ago

            Yeah I think that’s what’s so interesting about it! It’s one of the few situations where we have been able to (in a limited way) study how consciousness comes about in a mind. Perhaps leaving us with more questions than answers… Tantalising.