Description: Prior to my brain surgery, I was given a test to determine if language and memory reside in the side of my brain not causing seizures. The Wada test is given by injecting sodium amytal [amobarbital] into the left and right internal carotid arteries, at separate times, causing a "freeze" (that is, putting part of the brain to sleep) to determine individual capabilities. The patient is then shown objects and asked for their names. The freeze wears off after approximately 4 minutes. Choosing which objects were shown during the freeze tests memory.