Teen's Brain Rewires After Losing Half, Demonstrating Neuroplasticity's Power.
Mora Leeb, who had the left side of her brain removed at 9 months old, has grown up with her right hemisphere taking on jobs usually done on the left side, showing an extreme version of brain plasticity. Scientists hope to understand how brains can modify their connections to adapt to new circumstances, and how to help others recover from a stroke or traumatic brain injury. Mora's abilities and deficits show that half a brain can't fully replicate the capabilities of a full one, but understanding the basis of this sort of extreme plasticity could help millions of people.