Staged Commissurotomy and Central Auditory Function

Two young right-handed men with normal peripheral hearing underwent a "staged" commissurotomy procedure. At the first surgical setting, approximately the posterior half of the corpus callosum was sectioned. Approximately two months after the first operation, the remaining portion was surgically disconnected. Extensive central auditory assessment indicated little deficit after each surgery, which was not the case in previous data on patients with commissurotomy at one setting. We discuss possible mechanisms for these differing results, along with the advantages of the staged surgical procedure.