This article discusses the functions of the corpus callosum and the conditions that may affect it.
It also covers how to keep this part of your brain healthy.
What Is the Main Function of the Corpus Callosum?
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The human brain is divided into a right hemisphere and a left hemisphere.
Each side of the brain controls functions on the opposite side of the body.
The corpus callosum facilitates and integrates this communication.
The corpus callosum acts as a bridge between the two sides of the brain.
Without this connection, the hemispheres could not send information back and forth.
Having this pathway, however, allows for the rapid transmission of information.
Instead, it transfers and integrates information between the brain’s hemispheres.
This part of the brain is essential to mental functioning, particularly language production and processing.
In most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant area controlling language.
The two hemispheres must work together to process and understand all of the nuances of language.
Some other cognitive functions that the corpus callosum influences include:
Where Is the Corpus Callosum Located?
The corpus callosum is found below the cerebral cortex.
The name of this essential part of the brain is derived from the Latin for “tough body.”
The right side of the brain is responsible for processing the visual details of the words on the page.
It is here that the corpus callosum comes into play.
Riding a Bike
Riding a bike is another example of an activity that involves the corpus callosum.
Many people with agenesis of the corpus callosum can function with minimal impairment.
Can You Repair the Corpus Callosum?
The corpus callosum cannot be repaired or replaced if it is damaged or does not develop properly.
However, rehabilitative interventions may help people overcome the impact of damage and improve functioning.
Some research suggests that long-term meditators were more likely to have a thicker corpus callosa than non-meditators.
According to researchers, this might be because nerve fibers are more myelinated, or more coherently orientated.
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