Lateralization and Split-Brain

• What is anthropology?

  The study of human societies and cultures and their development
• What does the term "aphasia" refer to?

  Language disorders ranging from inability to produce speech to inability to understand speech
• What is Broca's area responsible for?

  Production of speech
• What is Wernicke's area associated with?

  Understanding speech and its meaning
• What does double dissociation indicate?

  Two related mental processes function independently of each other
• Give an example of double dissociation.

  Speech and language comprehension
• How does double dissociation help in diagnosis?

  It shows that two brain regions and functions are separate
• What are the main functions of the left and right hemispheres of the brain?

  • Left Hemisphere: Logic, analysis, language functions, problem solving
  • Right Hemisphere: Spatial comprehension, emotions, face recognition
• What is the corpus callosum's role in the brain?

  It connects the two hemispheres
• What is the purpose of cutting the corpus callosum in severe epilepsy cases?

  To prevent seizures from affecting both halves of the brain
• Who conducted split-brain research in 1967?

  Sperry and Gazzaniga
• What happens when a split-brain patient sees an image in the left visual field?

  They cannot respond verbally because the right hemisphere has no language center
• What is the response of a split-brain patient when an image is presented in the right visual field?

  They can verbally identify the image because the left hemisphere processes it
• What are some limitations of split-brain studies?

  • Highly controlled laboratory research
  • Lacks ecological validity
  • Very limited sample size (11 patients)
  • Patients had epilepsy, affecting generalizability
• What did Bavelier et al. (1997) find regarding brain activation patterns?

  Considerable variability in activation patterns across individuals when reading
• What anatomical differences were found between genders in language areas?

  Women have larger Broca's and Wernicke's areas than men
• What are the strengths of split-brain research?

  • Provides insights into hemispheric lateralization
  • Highly controlled experimental conditions
  • Helps understand the independence of brain functions
• What is the function of the somatosensory cortex?

  It processes sensory information from the body
• Which hemisphere does information from the right visual field go to?

  The left hemisphere
• What is split-brain surgery?

  A surgical procedure to cut the nerve fibers of the corpus callosum
• What would Patient X say when an image is presented in the left visual field?

  They would say they cannot see the image
• What would Patient X say when an image is presented in the right visual field?

  They would be able to say they had seen the image
• What are the key components to include in an essay about lateralisation and/or split brain research?

  • Define lateralisation
  • Discuss Sperry & Gazzaniga's study: Aim, Method, Results, Conclusion
  • Evaluate strengths and limitations
  • Include evidence from other studies
• What happens when Joe's brain is given separate instructions?

  Each half receives different instructions
• What does Joe fix his eyes on during the experiment?

  The cross in the center of the screen
• How does information travel to Joe's brain?

  Right side goes to left hemisphere, left side to right
• What can Joe report seeing when a word is flashed to the right?

  He can report seeing the word
• What happens when a word is flashed to Joe's right brain?

  He cannot report seeing that word
• What does Joe do when asked to draw with his left hand?

  He draws a picture related to the word
• What is the function of the Corpus callosum?

  Connects the two halves of the brain
• What was the purpose of cutting the Corpus callosum in Joe's case?

  To prevent the spread of electric storms causing seizures
• What effect did the surgery have on Joe's brain communication?

  It prevented the left and right halves from communicating
• How does Joe's brain appear after the surgery?


  It seems like two separate people in one head
• What happens when Joe sees two words simultaneously?

  He points to the word he can name
• Which hemisphere processes the word "Bell" for Joe?

  The non-speaking right brain processes it
• What does Joe's left brain do when asked to explain his choice?

  It concocts a plausible story for his choice
• What is the left hemisphere's most marvelous property according to the text?

  The desire to explain cause and effect