lateralisation of function

• What are the two main divisions of the brain?

  The brain is divided into two hemispheres.
• What is lateralisation in the context of the brain?

  Lateralisation refers to the different roles and functions of the two hemispheres of the brain.
• What does asymmetrical function mean in relation to the brain hemispheres?

  Asymmetrical function means that the hemispheres are not the same and control opposite sides of the body.
• What is the corpus callosum?

  The corpus callosum is a thick band of nerve fibres connecting the hemispheres of the brain.
• What is the primary function of the left hemisphere of the brain?

  The left hemisphere is responsible for language processing, including reading and understanding.
• What role does the right hemisphere play in brain function?

  The right hemisphere is involved in spatial awareness and recognition, particularly in creative tasks like music and visual information.
• What sex differences exist in brain lateralisation?

  Females are generally associated with left brain tasks like language, while males are associated with right brain tasks like spatial tasks.
• What does the evidence suggest about the corpus callosum in females?

  There is evidence that females may have a thicker corpus callosum, suggesting they use both hemispheres and are less lateralised.
• What research support exists for the idea of sex differences in brain function?

  Harasty et al (1997) found that females have slightly larger brain processing language parts, while Rilea et al (2005) found males excel in spatial tasks.
• What is a strength of the research on brain lateralisation?

  A strength is that it uses scientific methods, such as brain scans and lab experiments, increasing validity.
• What is a weakness of the research on brain lateralisation according to Rilea et al (2005)?

  A weakness is that Rilea et al (2005) found males don't always perform better on spatial tasks.
• What did Sommer et al (2004) find regarding females and hemisphere usage for language tasks?

  Sommer et al (2004) found no strong evidence that females use both hemispheres for language tasks.