Man wakes from surgery speaking fluent ‘native-level’ Spanish despite only knowing how to count to 10

A Utah father says he repeatedly woke from surgery speaking fluent Spanish despite only basic prior knowledge. Stephen Chase first experienced the phenomenon at 19 and says it has recurred after multiple operations. Doctors say the episodes may be linked to Foreign Language Syndrome, an extremely rare, temporary neurological condition sometimes associated with anaesthesia and altered brain function.

Man wakes from surgery speaking fluent ‘native-level’ Spanish despite only knowing how to count to 10
A Utah father says he repeatedly woke from surgery speaking fluent Spanish despite only basic prior knowledge. Stephen Chase first experienced the phenomenon at 19 and says it has recurred after multiple operations. Doctors say the episodes may be linked to Foreign Language Syndrome, an extremely rare, temporary neurological condition sometimes associated with anaesthesia and altered brain function.