A research by Antoni Rodriguez-Fornells to preserve the capacity of a chess player's brain before surgery

Published on 25 Sep 2024

In a recent study published in Cortex, neuroscientists from the University of Barcelona, led by Antoni Rodríguez-Fornells (currently a resident fellow at Iméra), mapped brain regions related to chess skills to help preserve a patient’s ability to play the game during tumor removal surgery.

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The patient, referred to as AB, a 45-year-old programmer and avid chess player with an Elo rating of 1,950, had a glioblastoma, a highly invasive brain tumor. His request to the surgical team was clear: ensure his chess-playing ability remained intact.

Andreu Gabarrós, the neurosurgeon performing the operation, sought the expertise of Rodríguez-Fornells and his team to create a protocol that would protect AB’s chess-related cognitive functions.
Rodríguez-Fornells’ contribution was pivotal not only in preserving AB’s chess abilities but also in developing similar protocols for other cognitive skills, such as programming. His work demonstrates a broader approach to personalizing neurosurgery to protect unique patient abilities, setting a precedent for future operations where cognitive preservation is crucial.