Wilder Penfield and Stimulation of the Brain

For severe cases of epilepsy Wilder Penfield (1891-1976) sought new surgical treatments (Fancher, 1996, p. 101). Penfield thought that the auras in patients were the result of early focus activity, before it spreaded in the way to cause the appropriate convulsion or seasure. What Penfield did, was surgically exposing patients' brains when they were fully conscious to stimulation of different locations by use of an electrode to seek the particular parts that produced their auras. There were several surprises found by using this method. For instance, when he stimulated regions that surrounded the primary visual and auditory areas the patients experienced full visual or auditory hallucinations.