The Functions of the Temporal Lobe and Plasticity
By: Maria Viscomi
V.S. Ramachandran proposes that the brain can contain "cross-wiring" which produces synesthesia, a condition in which senses become linked to each other. One of his first synesthetes, a young woman who had a distinct color linked to every number, claimed to see this color in her "mind's eye" (Ramachandran 83). Magnani himself claimed that his visions of Pontito were in his "inward eye" as well. If he did in fact suffer from temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), it could be possible that the plasticity of the brain allowed for some of his senses to become cross-wired, producing this unique sight that stemmed from his already photographic memory.
It was proven in 1989 by neuroscientists at the University of Yale that those who suffered from TLE have brain reorganization involving the selective loss of interneurons and increased excitability of surrounding tissues (Lanerolle, et al). The temporal lobe contains the hippocampus, which plays a crucial role in short-term and long-term memory, as well as spatial memory. As Magnani describes how he can see his past in three-dimension and look around his memory, we know that the hippocampus is definitely involved in his episodes. The amygdala is located in the frontal portion of the temporal lobes and controls emotional reactions. The amygdalae also play a role in memory consolidation and decision making. The temporal lobe also plays a role in sensory input, which would explain how Magnani claims to hear things in his episodes as well. With all of these integral functions being rooted in the temporal lobes, there is clear reason to believe that TLE is what triggered Magnani's hallucinations.
In this video, V.S. Ramachandran explains how repetitive temporal lobe seizures strengthen the pathways that result in heightened experiences that people with Geschwind syndrome have. This would explain why Geschwind syndrome gets stronger over time: the repetitive nature of TLE allows for these connections to be continuously restrengthened due to the plasticity of the brain.
