On Brain Hemispheres, the Corpus Collosum, and Consciousness

This is for my science-y peeps who probably roll their eyes every time I mention crying. Well, read on my logical, reasoning, questioning, Spock-ish friends! No crying today.

I’m just always curious and never satisfied with what I know. I feel like there’s always something more. 

So ever since finding out about Austin’s Dandy Walker brain malformation, I’ve been interested in all things brains. Some of Austin's most interesting brain descriptions include the following:

• Dandy-Walker malformation with large posterior fossa cyst
• Macrocephaly
• Hydrocephalus
• Agenisis of cerebellar vermis
• Agenesis of the corpus callosum
• Severe brainstem hypoplasia
• Mild cerebellar hypoplasia-left greater than right
• Large multiseptated supratentorial cyst
• Decreased supratentorial normal gray matter structures
• Gyral abnormalities with heterotopic gray matter in bilater cerebral hemispheres

Well, this morning I was reading some super cool stuff about right and left brain hemispheres and how it's possible each hemisphere might have its own consciousness and reality, but because the left typically has speech, it might be the only side we "hear", while the right side might not be acknowledged because it is essentially "silent". 

And between our hemispheres are fibers called the Corpus Callosum. It's the part that connects the two sides of the brains and sends info back and forth. These fibers existing between our brain hemispheres might also be the reason we perceive a complete unified identity rather than two separate identities. 

However, Austin has the above listed 'agenisis of the corpus callosum' which means his fibers are absent or diminished. 

So do you can see how this gets interesting? Does he have two personalities? Does he have two consciousnesses? Can he switch between them based on which side of his body is receiving input or stimuli? 

I don't know! But what if?

So if you want to play along, read the attached excerpts from the book I’m reading on my kindle, Waking Up by Sam Harris (he's a neuroscientist and philosopher) and tell me what you think! 💫🤔🧠🧐