• Question: My brain is telling me to write this question but how do i stop myself (not my brain) from writing this question?

    Asked by lilsimmo to Damien, Rachael, Simon, Suzi, Tim on 20 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Tim Fosker

      Tim Fosker answered on 20 Jun 2011:


      Hi @lilsimmo

      I’m having the same problem with stopping myself from writing this answer 🙂

      You know it is actually possible to want to stop something that your brain is telling you to do. I think you will be interested in a syndrome called ‘anarchic hand syndrome’. Sometimes severe epilepsy sufferers have the two halves of their brains (hemispheres) separated to reduce their seizures. Sometimes after this has happened the left hand which is controlled by the right hemisphere ‘seems’ to have a mind of its own. Although your left hand is unlikely to write things down when you don’t ‘want’ it to as language is mostly found in the left hemisphere which controls the right hand 🙂

    • Photo: Suzi Gage

      Suzi Gage answered on 20 Jun 2011:


      Hi @lilsimmo
      Great question! Unfortunately one that is really hard to answer!

      At the moment there is so much of the brain that we don’t understand, that we have more questions than answers about it. If it’s something you’re interested in, you should really consider a career in brain research! Join us!!!

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