The case explored in the link below shows stunning plasticity of the human brain as it develops in the womb, but also indicates the power and promise stem cells and the importance of prenatal care. A young girl born with half a brain (one hemisphere instead of two) can function normally because her brain ‘recognized’ its own deformity early in its development and rewired itself to ensure vital functions developed normally. Synaptical transmissions changed direction as they grew, entire sections expected to develop on one side were segmented in unused space on the other. Adults have redeveloped function in various appendages after losing initial function due to a traumatic brain injury, but not an entire side of the brain. This girl is the only person one planet with this condition.
Story here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20090727/sc_livescience/girlseesfinewithhalfabrain
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