“He is doing the work of a clerk.” A person with 90% brain damage

Many scientists believe that the physical source of consciousness is in the brain. But the man, who has lost almost all of his brain, but lives quite well, was first described in the scientific journal “The Lancet” in 2007.

At that time, the Frenchman was 44 years old and had lived most of his life without knowing that something was wrong with him. He went to the doctor only with complaints about weakness in his left leg.

When he underwent an MRI, it was found that his skull was full of fluid, but only a thin outer layer of brain tissue was left of his brain. The inner brain was almost completely damaged.

Doctors believe that the man’s brain gradually disappeared over the course of 30 years as fluid slowly accumulated in his skull.

This is called hydrocephalus. He was diagnosed as a child and was treated until the age of 14, but then the treatment was stopped. Since then, most of the man’s brain has been lost.

Despite the small amount of brain tissue in the skull, the man was not particularly mentally retarded.

His IQ level was 75 units, yet he was able to perform the work of a clerk. He was also married with two children and relatively healthy.

Previously, researchers believed that consciousness could be linked to various specific regions of the brain, however, if this hypothesis were correct, then this man should not have consciousness at all.

This case confirms that the regions of the brain, which, according to scientists, contained the source of consciousness, are not connected to it at all, writes “Science Alert”.

This idea was first published in 2011 and coincides with recent research showing that the adult brain is much more adaptable than previously thought. Different regions of them are even able to divide roles and take on new functions in case of injury.

In this case, the small amount of remaining brain still allowed the man to be self-aware.