Hemispheric Lateralisation & Split Brain Research

Cards (18)

  • What is hemispheric lateralisation?

    It is the idea that the left and right hemispheres of the brain are responsible for different functions.
  • What are the different functions of the left hemisphere?

    The left hemisphere controls speech, language, comprehension, analysis, calculations, time, sequencing, and recognition of words, letters, and numbers.
  • What does the left hemisphere receive information from?

    The left hemisphere receives information from the right-hand side of the body and the right visual field.
  • What are the functions of the right hemisphere?

    The right hemisphere controls creativity, spatial ability, context/perception, and recognition of faces, places, and objects.
  • What does the right hemisphere receive information from?

    The right hemisphere receives information from the left-hand side of the body and the left visual field.
  • What is split brain research?

    Split brain research involves studying patients who have had surgery to cut the corpus callosum, which connects the two hemispheres of the brain.
  • What is the aim of split brain research?

    The aim is to investigate the effects of severing the connection between the two hemispheres of the brain on functioning.
  • How many participants were studied in Sperry's split brain research?

    11 individuals who had their corpus callosum severed due to surgery.
  • What was the procedure in Sperry's split brain research?

    Participants sat in front of a screen and were presented with visual information to either their right or left eye for 1/10th of a second.
  • What were the results of the visual presentation of information in Sperry's research?

    Objects seen in the right visual field could be named verbally, while objects seen in the left visual field could only be identified by pointing.
  • What conclusion can be drawn from Sperry's research?

    The two hemispheres of the brain have different abilities and functions; only the left hemisphere can produce language.
  • What is a weakness of split brain research regarding individual differences?

    The degree of hemispheric lateralisation varies among participants, affecting the measurement of lateralisation.
  • What is a weakness of split brain research related to sample bias?

    Only 11 split brain patients participated, all with a history of epileptic seizures, which may have influenced the findings.
  • What is a strength of the research into hemispheric lateralisation?

    It uses scientific methods based on objective and empirical techniques in controlled laboratory settings.
  • What does the case study of patient EB suggest about hemispheric lateralisation?

    It suggests that language ability may be present in more areas than just the left hemisphere.
  • What are the key functions of the left and right hemispheres of the brain?

    Left Hemisphere:
    • Speech, language, and comprehension
    • Analysis and calculations
    • Time and sequencing
    • Recognition of words, letters, and numbers

    Right Hemisphere:
    • Creativity
    • Spatial ability
    • Context/perception
    • Recognition of faces, places, and objects
  • What are the strengths and weaknesses of split brain research?

    Strengths:
    • Uses scientific methods
    • Based on objective and empirical techniques

    Weaknesses:
    • Individual differences in lateralisation
    • Sample bias with only 11 patients
  • What is the significance of the corpus callosum in split brain research?

    • Connects the two hemispheres of the brain
    • Its severing leads to functional separation of the hemispheres