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You Actually Share Your Brain With a Silent Stranger

You Actually Share Your Brain With a Silent Stranger

CGP Grey
7 HN recommenders · discussed 2016–2025
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About this video

CGP Grey explains split-brain patients, where severing the corpus callosum lets the two hemispheres act independently. He uses this to explore the idea of two minds in one head.

Why it appears in the archive

HN returns to it constantly in consciousness and decision-making threads as a clear, entertaining explanation of split-brain.

AI-generated summary and labels from the source dataset; verify important details against the video. Source & credits.

From the Hacker News discussion

otto_ortega · 2017-01 · strong rec

If you just learned that "Split Brain" was thing, I recommend watching this video by GPGrey, one of the best educational channels on YouTube: [VIDEO]

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BoppreH · 2016-11 · rec

For mind bending check the great explanation from CGP Grey, "You are two"[1], which argues the two brain hemispheres can operate independently. [1]: [VIDEO]

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glenneroo · 2018-04 · rec

Kurzgesagt[0] and CGP Grey[1] did a fun little 2-part intro into "split mindedness" i.e. the idea that we may have multiple consciousnesses(?) contending for control. [0] [LINK] [1] [VIDEO]

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teddyh · 2019-05 · rec

> how can there be two selfs in a single mind. Oh wow, do I have a YouTube video for you: [VIDEO] ( You Are Two , by CGP Grey)

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surround · 2020-08 · rec

This reminds me of two mind-boggling discoveries I’ve had about the human mind. The first is that the two halves of your brain act somewhat independently. And in rare cases, people’s left and right halves are “split” apart, and they act entirely independently - e.g. their left and their right hands will act separately, or even argue with each other. CGP Grey made a great video about this: [VIDEO] The other is that most people have a “voice” inside their head - e.g. when they read, they hear their own voice inside their head reading; their thoughts are like sentences they “hear;” they could look in the mirror have a conversation with themselves. Some ~10% of people do not have this internal monologue. [LINK] [LINK]

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tick_tock_tick · 2021-10 · rec

Every time someone brings up consciousness I like to bring up [VIDEO] . Split brains imply some very interesting ideas around of consciousness.

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alexpotato · 2025-05 · rec

This reminds me of the following quote: "Coding largely involves the 'logical part' of your brain. It tends to not include the 'language part' of your brain. This is one reason why comments you add to code are so useful: they force you to engage both parts of your brain and therefore get better results. This is also why when you go to explain a problem to a colleague, you often have a flash of brilliance and solve the problem: you are reframing the problem using a different part of your brain and the different part of your brain helps solve the problem." I'm sure some readers here will say this is preposterous and there is no such thing as having "two parts of your brain". To them I suggest watching: 1. "You are are two" (about people with their corpus callosum being severed) [VIDEO] 2. "Conscious Ants and Human Hives" by Peter Watts [LINK]

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branchless · 2016-11 · reference

You are two [VIDEO] I always come up with good ideas when relaxed, usually when not working on the problem (showering / running). God why are they working us to death?!

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