Most people expect to be given a dose of anesthetic before brain surgery, not a math quiz. But a Hunan Province man was not only kept wide awake, he answered brain teasers and recited poetry as doctors worked to extract a brain tumor. The 31-year-old patient, Xiao Yan (pseudonym), answered questions about his job as a driver and recite poetry as doctors at Xiangya Hospital in Changsha removed the 3-centimeter tumor on June 15, local media reported Tuesday.

"I also did math problems as well as picture puzzles. And I solved them all," Xiao Yan said.

Doctors prompted Xiao Yan with questions to monitor his speech and motor functions.

"If he suddenly lost his ability to speak, that meant the area we stimulated in the brain was to be avoided during the surgery," doctor Li Juan said.

The doctors successfully removed the tumor after the 20-minute procedure.

Hunan Daily