Hello all,
Since we have been on the topic of language comprehension and production, I thought this article, posted today on yahoo news would be interesting. It is about a man who, through the use of brain stimulation, regained his ability to speak after 8 years of voicelessness due to a severe beating.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070801/ap_on_he_me/brain_damage
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4 comments:
I saw that same report in the New York Times! How fascinating! I'd love to know what the technique was that is pumping the electricity into the brain and whether or not he has to carry a device with him all the time or what. I also am curious what the extent of the amnesia is. Has he gone back so far that he no longer thinks he is an adult? The brain trauma happened when he was 30, so who knows.
Here is the original article in Nature. Thanks for pointing it out, Gavin!
Sometimes I think in cases like this it matters more what kind of person the patient is. If the patient wants to speak and rehab it enough then he will. It's like if a man has a 10% chance to walk and ends up walking after many years because of his effort
I'm just wondering why experimental procedures like this aren't used more regularly. I understand for the first time one can be hesitant but after its been done, what's the hold up?
L.D. and Phillip,
I think a general response to both of your comments is yes, there is a lot of individual variation. There are a lot of medical cases where motivation and the power of positive thinking really helps a person's recovery. At the same time, Phillip, doctors probably don't want to get everyone's hopes up that this could happen to their loved one because it might not. They tried this same technique on Terry Schiavo and it did not improve her condition, so it really depends on the condition. Probably a lot more people will be willing to try it now that this case got so much publicity!
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