The Women with a Hole in her Brain

This article talks about how recently it was found out that a women who is 24 years old has been able to live without a whole cerebellum. This part of the brain contains about ten percent of the volume of the brain but about 50 percent of the neurons. It is even considered somewhat of a mini brain as it is responsible for many important functions relating to voluntary movement and balance. Her brain was able to adapt to this missing part of the brain and other parts of the brain took over the job of the cerebellum. This case displays the remarkable ability of the brain to adapt.

The main function of the precentral gyrus is to control the voluntary muscle movements of the skeletal muscles. If that part of the brain was taken out one would experience much difficulty carrying out physical tasks as it would be hard for them to coordinate their movements. You essentially would be able to survive without this part of the brain. Other parts of the brain would help take over these actions as the brain is extremely adaptable.