Final answer:
A hemispherectomy is the removal or deactivation of one cerebral hemisphere, often performed to treat severe epilepsy, particularly in children, and can lead to minimal deficits due to brain plasticity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The surgical procedure that involves the removal or deactivation of one cerebral hemisphere is called a hemispherectomy. While this is a rare and drastic measure, typically reserved for treating severe epilepsy, it can result in surprisingly few problems, especially in children due to the plasticity of their developing nervous systems. In contrast, another procedure that involves cutting the corpus callosum to prevent seizure spread is known as a callosotomy, which can lead to a condition called split-brain. This condition highlights the distinct but overlapping functions of the cerebral hemispheres, such as language processing, which is primarily associated with the left hemisphere, and nonverbal or spatial functions associated with the right.