You can live with just one kidney or a single lung, but whoever thought you could live a normal life with only half a brain? Most of us can't even live without our cellphone for more than a few hours.

A human brain contains about 86 billion neurons or brain cells. A single brain cell isn't very smart by itself. But when they are connected in vast networks they produce intelligence, personality, memories, emotions, language, movement, and consciousness.

But what happens when we lose HALF of all our brain cells? Are we paralyzed and confined in a wheelchair? Can we see and hear and touch and feel? Can we still talk or think or do we just stare blankly into space? Are we conscious and aware or stuck in a neverending coma or vegetative state?

It sounds scary, but losing half a brain usually has a very happy ending.