Sperry (1968)

• What was the aim of the study by Sperry?

  To investigate the effects of surgery on patients with severe epilepsy.
• What surgical procedure was performed on patients in Sperry's study?

  Cutting down the corpus callosum to create a 'split-brain'.
• How many participants were studied in Sperry's research?

  11 participants.
• What tasks were administered to the participants in the study?

  Various tasks to test how information was processed.
• What did the results indicate about the left hemisphere's abilities?

  The left hemisphere was better at naming items using words when held by the right hand.
• What did the results indicate about the right hemisphere's abilities?

  The right hemisphere was better at identifying objects by feeling for them with the left hand.
• What does the study suggest about the roles of the left and right hemispheres?

  The left hemisphere controls more language abilities, while the right hemisphere controls spatial abilities.
• What did Sperry's study find about the independence of each hemisphere?

  Each hemisphere can function independently and has its own memories.
• What difficulties did participants face when words were shown to the right visual field?

  Participants struggled with repetition of the words.
• What difficulties did participants face when objects were shown to the left visual field?

  Participants struggled with object selection.
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of Sperry's study?

  Strengths:

  • Reliable due to detailed information gathered.
  • Easily comparable as procedures were the same for every patient.

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Not generalizable due to small sample size of 11.
  • Lacks ecological validity as tasks were artificial.
• What is a strength of Sperry's study regarding the information gathered?

  It is reliable as Sperry gathered detailed information.
• Why is Sperry's study considered easily comparable?

  Because it used procedures that are the same for every patient.
• What is a weakness of Sperry's study related to its sample size?

  It is not generalizable due to the small sample size of 11.
• What is another weakness of Sperry's study regarding ecological validity?

  The study was artificial and lacks ecological validity.