For one C , epilepsy was a rootage of mystery story to scientists . gaining control were thought to be due to everything from masturbation todemonic monomania , and it was n’t until the thirties that a brain surgeon show up the condition could sometimes be boil down to specific pip in the learning ability . To do it , he had to open up up patients ’ heads and fry their brain tissue paper — while they were still conscious .
Wilder Penfield , the subject of today’sGoogle Doodle , was brook on January 26 , 1891 in Spokane , Washington . According toVox , the Canadian - American medico revolutionise the way we think about and care for epilepsy when he pioneer the Montreal Procedure . The operation require him to remove portions of the skulls of epilepsy sufferers to access their brains . He consider seizure were connected to small areas of brain tissue that were somehow damaged , and by remove the dissemble neighborhood he could bring around the epilepsy . His hypothesis was based on the fact that people with epilepsy often have “ atmosphere ” before a seizure : vivid recollections of random scents , tastes , or thoughts .
To nail the damage brain tissue , he would have to locate the part of the brain bond to his patient ’s aura . This meant that the patient would necessitate to be awake to tell him when he struck upon the right sensation . Penfield stimulated the uncover brain tissue paper with an electrode , have the affected role to either feel spiritlessness in sure limb , live sure smells , or hark back certain remembering count on what part of the brain he touched . A local anesthetic reduce annoyance in the top dog ; shocking the genius did n’t cause any pain because the organ does n’t contain painful sensation sense organ .
During one of his surgical procedure , a patient role magnificently cried , “ I smell burnt toast ! ” That was the same aroma that visited her before each capture , and after Penfield move out the part of her brain associated with the sensation , her epilepsy went aside .
Einstein surgical operation is n’t acure - allfor every case of epilepsy , but treatments standardized to the one Penfield produce are still used today . In some guinea pig , as much ashalf of the brainis removed with positive resultant .
[ h / tVox ]
