In a case that continues to problem scientific understanding of the mind, researchers are analyzing how a person with solely about 10 p.c of his mind tissue manages to dwell a daily life.
Following an MRI, the scans proven that a lot of the mans cranium was crammed with fluid, as a substitute of mind tissue.
Whereas it was initially thought that mind tissue had eroded, scientists now consider that it was compressed by the fluid.
The mind tissue was compressed into a skinny outer layer alongside the perimeters of his cranium, leaving 90 p.c of the ability crammed with fluid, as a substitute of mind matter.
Regardless of the intense discount in mind quantity, the Frenchman leads a reasonably wholesome life and is employed and married with two youngsters.
He reveals solely delicate mental impairment. His IQ was measured at 75, which is beneath common however not low sufficient to qualify as intellectually disabled.
The situation is the results of hydrocephalus, a dysfunction involving the construct up of fluid within the mind.
He had been handled for it as a baby, during which he had a shunt inserted to empty the fluid.
The shunt was eliminated when he was 14.
Over time, the fluid slowly collected once more and seemingly compressed his mind tissue.
Neurologists in France are intrigued by how properly the person capabilities given how little mind tissue stays in tact.
Cognitive psychologist Axel Cleeremans from Université Libre de Bruxelles makes use of this case to advocate his ‘radical plasticity thesis’.
It was beforehand believed that consciousness stems from a single a part of the mind. Nonetheless, in line with Cleeremans: “Any idea of consciousness has to have the ability to clarify why an individual like that, who’s lacking 90 p.c of his neurons, nonetheless displays regular behaviour.”
Cleeremans believes that individuals aren’t born with consciousness in a single a part of the mind. As a substitute, he believes that its location could be versatile, and learnt by totally different elements of the mind, which might clarify why this man has misplaced 90 p.c of his mind nonetheless displays regular behaviours.
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