Friday, 10 Oct 2025
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • DMCA
logo logo
  • World
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Economy
  • Tech & Science
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Education
    • Celebrities
    • Culture and Arts
    • Environment
    • Health and Wellness
    • Lifestyle
  • 🔥
  • Trump
  • VIDEO
  • House
  • White
  • ScienceAlert
  • Trumps
  • Watch
  • man
  • Health
  • Season
Font ResizerAa
American FocusAmerican Focus
Search
  • World
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Economy
  • Tech & Science
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Education
    • Celebrities
    • Culture and Arts
    • Environment
    • Health and Wellness
    • Lifestyle
Follow US
© 2024 americanfocus.online – All Rights Reserved.
American Focus > Blog > Tech and Science > Surgeons Identify—And Save—A Patient’s Chess-Playing Brain Area
Tech and Science

Surgeons Identify—And Save—A Patient’s Chess-Playing Brain Area

Last updated: September 19, 2024 2:57 am
Share
Surgeons Identify—And Save—A Patient’s Chess-Playing Brain Area
SHARE

A groundbreaking surgery performed on a patient known as “AB” has shed light on a new approach to preserving cognitive skills during complex brain tumor removal procedures. Last year, AB, a 45-year-old computer programmer, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, a highly invasive brain tumor that required intricate surgery for removal. However, AB had one specific request for his surgical team – to protect his ability to play chess, a passion he had cultivated for 25 years.

The request was made to Dr. Andreu Gabarrós, head of neurosurgery at Bellvitge University Hospital in Spain. Known for his dedication to his patients, Dr. Gabarrós reached out to his colleagues in the field of neuroscience to develop a plan to map AB’s brain before and during the surgery. This mapping would help identify and preserve the brain regions crucial for AB’s chess skills.

Two researchers at the University of Barcelona, led by cognitive neuroscientist Antoni Rodríguez-Fornells, worked tirelessly to create a chess-preserving surgical protocol for AB’s procedure. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to pinpoint the areas linked to AB’s chess performance, the team prepared for a unique surgical approach.

During the surgery, a procedure called electrical stimulation mapping (ESM) was conducted. This involved touching a live electrode to different spots on AB’s cerebral cortex while he was awake, to determine which areas were essential for his chess abilities. Through this process, the surgeons identified AB’s supramarginal gyrus (SMG) as a critical brain region for chess performance, a discovery not previously documented in brain-imaging studies of chess players.

One week post-surgery, AB experienced complications that affected his language and motor skills, delaying the assessment of his chess abilities. However, four months later, it was confirmed that his chess skills remained intact, albeit with slightly slower responses in complex tasks.

See also  Exercise boosts survival rates in colon cancer patients, study shows

While the study was limited to one patient, it showcased a novel approach to preserving cognitive skills during brain tumor removal. The research, published in the journal Cortex, highlighted the importance of identifying and protecting functional brain structures involved in specific skills, such as chess playing.

The success of this surgery has paved the way for future endeavors in preserving cognitive abilities during brain surgeries. Dr. Rodríguez-Fornells and his team are currently working on a similar protocol to safeguard computer programming skills during tumor removal procedures. This innovative approach has garnered interest from experts in the field, who commend the team for their meticulous and forward-thinking methods.

As advancements in neurosurgery continue to evolve, the case of AB serves as a beacon of hope for patients facing complex brain tumor surgeries. By prioritizing the preservation of cognitive skills, surgeons can provide a better quality of life for their patients post-surgery, ensuring that they can continue to pursue their passions and lead fulfilling lives. Breaking down tasks into functions during surgery is crucial to understanding the effects of electrical stimulation, according to experts in the field. Dr. Emmanuel Mandonnet, a professor of neurosurgery at the University of Paris Cité in France, questions whether tying specific brain areas to tasks like chess play or computer programming is necessary for preparing patients for surgery. He believes that asking patients to perform standard cognitive tasks, such as repeating numbers backward, may be sufficient to identify critical areas that should be avoided during the operation.

While visual search abilities, like those examined in chess surgery protocols, may share neural processes with other tasks such as knitting, there are exceptions. For example, retrieving a rule about a specific chess move may require a more specialized approach. A recent study by researchers at the University Hospital of Montpellier in France found that having a musician patient play an instrument during surgery was not necessary to spare areas linked to musical skills. Instead, patients were asked to perform multiple tasks simultaneously, such as moving an upper limb while talking and switching between languages, to activate motor, auditory, and cognitive processes similar to playing an instrument.

See also  Surprise Discovery About Sugar in The Brain Could Help Fight Alzheimer's : ScienceAlert

The study mentioned in Cortex aimed to assess the impact of surgery on cognitive abilities, with the patient AB reporting that he was able to maintain his Elo rating post-surgery. This achievement highlights the success of the surgery and the importance of understanding the effects of electrical stimulation on different cognitive functions.

In conclusion, while some surgeries may involve tasks like chess play, the key is to tailor the approach to each patient’s specific needs. By breaking down tasks into functions and understanding the neural processes involved, surgeons can ensure that critical areas are preserved during surgery, ultimately leading to successful outcomes for patients.

TAGGED:AreabrainChessPlayingIdentifyAndpatientsSaveASurgeons
Share This Article
Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article Second Man Buried Under Notre Dame Identified as French Poet Second Man Buried Under Notre Dame Identified as French Poet
Next Article Your Research Can Help Inform Climate Litigation Your Research Can Help Inform Climate Litigation
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Popular Posts

President Donald J. Trump Secures Major Settlement with Brown University – The White House

ACHIEVING A LANDMARK SETTLEMENT WITH BROWN UNIVERSITY: Today, President Donald J. Trump announced a landmark…

July 31, 2025

Peabody Awards Will Honor Andrea Mitchell and ‘Saturday Night Live’

Andrea Mitchell, the chief Washington and chief foreign affairs correspondent for NBC News, has been…

April 8, 2025

President Trump Orders ICE, DHS to Immediately Arrest “Thugs” and Rioters Throwing Rocks at ICE Vehicles |

Trump Orders Immediate Action Against Protesters Targeting ICE Vehicles On Friday, President Trump directed the…

July 11, 2025

Climate migration doesn’t look like you think it does – Grist

Climate migration is a pressing issue that is only set to increase in the coming…

September 18, 2024

Senate Votes to Overturn California’s Electric Vehicle Mandate in Major Blow to Climate Change Activists |

Senate Votes to Repeal California's Electric Vehicle Mandate In a move that is sure to…

May 22, 2025

You Might Also Like

Worlds Apart Crossword
Tech and Science

Worlds Apart Crossword

October 10, 2025
Lasers made muon beams, no massive accelerator needed
Tech and Science

Lasers made muon beams, no massive accelerator needed

October 10, 2025
Brain scans reveal where taste and smell become flavor
Tech and Science

Brain scans reveal where taste and smell become flavor

October 10, 2025
Astronomers saw a rogue planet going through a rapid growth spurt
Tech and Science

Astronomers saw a rogue planet going through a rapid growth spurt

October 10, 2025
logo logo
Facebook Twitter Youtube

About US


Explore global affairs, political insights, and linguistic origins. Stay informed with our comprehensive coverage of world news, politics, and Lifestyle.

Top Categories
  • Crime
  • Environment
  • Sports
  • Tech and Science
Usefull Links
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • DMCA

© 2024 americanfocus.online –  All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?