X-Message-Number: 25111
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 22:13:49 -0700
From: Mike Perry <>
Subject: The Soul and the Corpus Callosum

Richard writes: "You can't simply connect two experiencers with a cable." 
The two hemispheres of the cerebrum are connected by the corpus callosum, a 
cable-like structure that appears to transmit information between them and 
helps them integrate their activities into one unified "experiencer." If 
this cable is cut, as has sometimes been done to relieve severe epilepsy, 
you appear to get two separate experiencers; each hemisphere then becomes 
an individual in its own right. Apparently over time the two split halves 
can learn other ways to communicate and thus achieve a degree of 
reunification. But the suggestion is strong that if you could repair a 
recently severed corpus callosum you would connect two experiencers (two 
"souls") and they would merge into one.

Some interesting starting material on splitting the brain and its effects 
is at http://www.indiana.edu/~pietsch/split-brain.html.

Mike Perry

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