A closer look at Phillip's brain...

Cortical Dysplasia:  the term used to describe a heterogeneous group of central nervous system malformations in which the organization of the cortical plate is disrupted, typically owing to abnormal cellular migration.  Marginal zone heterotopies or leptomeningeal glioneuronal heterotopias are one form of dysplasia in which ectopic nests of glial and neuronal cells are observed in the cortical marginal zone or overlying leptomeninges, respectivly.  These lesions are frequently seen in association with other features of dysplasia as well as other central nervous system malformations and congenital syndromes such  as Trisomy 13 or type II lissencephalies.  They are among the most common neuropathalogical malformations found in human brains with cortical dysplasia.  Although their clinical significance is not fully understood, they are presumed foci of seizure activity because of their cortical location, neurol composition and high incedence in individuals with epilepsy.

Looks like a bunch of 'gobbldy gook' doesn't it?  How's this? : 

Cortical Dysplasia means that the cells in the brain did not distribute evenly over the brain while the person was in utero (typically).  Cortical Dysplasia is often associated with Trisomy 13 (a disorder of human chromosome #13, of which approx. 1 in 10,000 live born infants are born with) and type II lissencphaly (which has a long list of really bad stuff that happens, and isn't very common!).  Cortical Dysplasia is often associated with epilepsy and their clinical significance is not completely understood. 

That better?  Though so... now lets move on to Phillip's brain... since you know about 'most brains'...

Phillip's cortical dysplasia caused Pachygyria in/ of his brain.    Pachygyria is generally used to describe the degree of smoothness of the  brain.  Pachygyria means 'broad gyri'   Gyri = convulsions     Convulsions = wrinkles     In pachygyria the wrinkles in the brain are broader and thicker than in a 'typical' brain.    

The areas of Phillip's brain that are effected by Cortical Dysplasia (and subsequently: pachygyria) are the following:  Sylvian Fissure, Parietal Lobe, Temperal Lobe, and the Occipital Lobe (in order of severity from worst to least)

Sylvian Fissure - the deepest and most prominant of the cortical fissures.  It seperates the frontal lobes and the temperal lobes in both hemispheres         Cortical - of or relating to the cortex               Fissure - a long, narrow slit or groove that divides an organ into lobes

Parietal Lobe - the part of the cerebral cortex in either hemisphere of the brain lying below the crown of the head   Cerebral Cortex - the visible surface of the brain

Occipital Lobe - the part of the cerebral cortex in either hemisphere of the brain lying in the back of the head

Parietal Lobe - The parietal lobe is separated from the frontal lobe by the central sulcus, but its boundaries below and behind are not so definite. Posteriorly, it is limited by the parietoöccipital fissure, and by a line carried across the hemisphere from the end of this fissure toward the preoccipital notch.

The right side of Phillip's brain is the side that is the most effected and the right hemispher is responsible for the following:  spatial abilities, face recognition, visual imagery, and music

MORE ON THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PARTS OF THE BRAIN:

The parietal lobe is involved in the primary reception and processing of somatic sensory information or that derived from teh sense receptors in the skin, muscles and joints.  This sensory information includes tactile or touch sensitivity in the skin, sensation of hot and cold, pressure exerted on the skin surface and the sense we have of the position of our joints and muscles.  It is also involved in the integration of auditory, visual, and somatic information by the interconnections with teh primary sensory areas in the temporal (auditory) and occipital (vision) lobes.

The occipital lobe mediates the processing of primary visual information

The temperal lobe is concerned with perception and recognitionof auditory stimuli (hearing) and memory (hippocampus)

The sylvian fissure is a cleft arising at a sharp angle seen in both himispheres of the brain, but more pronounced in the left.  It is known to be implicated in language function.  The sylvian fissure thus appears to be a marker for linguistic capacity.

This being said:  the not so 'technical' parts:

The left side of Phillip's brain is smaller than the right side of his brain.  He has more grey matter than white matter.  His sylvian fissure is almost completely non-existent:  instead of a deep crevice in the brain, his is almost completely flat.

And then comes:  Epilepsy... brought on by Cortical Dysplasia 

SEE:  "Epilepsy and Phillip" to learn more