Man Found to Be Missing 90% of His Brain but Still Living a Normal Life
In a compelling case that has intrigued and puzzled scientists for nearly two decades, a French man with a severely diminished brain has ignited a reassessment of fundamental theories about consciousness and brain function.
The man, initially described in a 2007 study published in The Lancet, appears to live a relatively normal life despite having what was believed to be 90 percent of his brain eroded.
Case Background
The man, who was 44 years old at the time of the original report, had been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition characterized by an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain.
This fluid buildup gradually destroyed much of his brain tissue over the span of 30 years. Remarkably, the man only discovered his unusual condition after seeking medical attention for mild weakness in his left leg.
Imaging studies revealed that his skull, once housing a substantial amount of brain matter, was largely filled with cerebrospinal fluid, leaving behind a minimal layer of brain tissue.
Scientific Reassessment
The man’s case has raised profound questions about the biological underpinnings of consciousness.
Traditionally, scientists have posited that consciousness is tied to specific brain regions such as the claustrum or the visual cortex.
However, this case suggests that consciousness might not be confined to these localized areas.
Axel Cleeremans, a cognitive psychologist at Université Libre de Bruxelles, has proposed a radical shift in understanding consciousness through his “radical plasticity thesis.”
According to Cleeremans, consciousness is not a fixed property tied to specific brain regions but rather an emergent property that can adapt and evolve depending on the brain’s condition.
He argues that the brain learns and re-describes its own activity through experience, enabling consciousness to persist even in cases of significant brain damage.
Implications of the Radical Plasticity Thesis
Cleeremans’ hypothesis suggests that the brain’s ability to adapt and reorganize itself—its plasticity—is far greater than previously understood.
The notion that consciousness could arise from the brain’s flexible and dynamic reorganization challenges the established idea that consciousness is strictly tied to particular brain structures.
The French man’s case, where his remaining brain tissue was insufficient for traditional models of consciousness, supports Cleeremans’ thesis that consciousness might emerge from the brain’s overall ability to integrate and process information, rather than from the presence of specific structures alone.
Recent Developments
In an update from January 2017, it was clarified that the man’s condition involved chronic non-communicating hydrocephalus, where fluid buildup compresses the brain rather than erodes it.
This means that while 90 percent of his brain tissue was indeed compressed into a thin layer, it was not entirely absent.
This adjustment in understanding does not diminish the significance of the case but rather refines the interpretation of his brain’s physical condition.
Broader Implications
The case also underscores the brain’s remarkable adaptability. Recent research has demonstrated that the adult brain can indeed reorganize and take on new functions even after significant injury, such as the restoration of vision in blind mice through induced cell growth.
For the medical and scientific communities, the French man’s experience highlights the need for a broader and more flexible understanding of brain function and consciousness.
Well, there are currently hundreds of deceased individuals in the US, including baseball legend Ted Williams, whose bodies are being preserved in liquid nitrogen in the hope that future technology will be able to revive them.
