The Woman with a Hole in Her Brain

In Helen Thomson's "Woman of 24 Found to Have No Cerebellum in Her Brain," the 24 year-old woman recently discovered she did not have a cerebellum after visiting the hospital for mild dizziness. Instead of having a cerebellum, she has cerebrospinal fluid, which cushions the brain and provides defense against diseases. The cerebellum's main function is to control voluntary movement and balance and involved in our development of motor functions. Surprisingly, the 24 year-old woman only suffered a mild case of developing her motor skills at a young age, which amazed doctors and me. I actually found the 24 year-old woman's story amazing because I just cannot imagine how one can live without the cerebellum or any part of the brain.

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the midbrain is located within the brainstem and between two developmental region of the brain. Its functions are motor movements, particularly movements of the eye and in auditory and visual processing. Although its functions impact the brain excessively, the midbrain is small enough to live without. Yes, some of our motor movements will be hindered without the midbrain. But, we have the cerebellum to compensate for the absence of the midbrain.