Split brain research

• What did Sperry et al want to study?


  Wanted to find other neural processes like language which are only found in one hemisphere and the message is sent through the corpus callosum.
• What did split-brain research entail?(Sperry 1968)

  Studied 11 patients who had gone through hemisphere commissurotomy (main line of communication between the 2 hemispheres was removed) to control frequent and severe epilepsy
• What was found from Sperry et al (1968)?


  They could see which hemisphere was responsible for what function.
• What are the strengths of split-brain research?


  1. Gazzaniga (1989) showed that split-brain pps perform better than connected brain control group on certain tasks - e.g. spotting the odd one out fastest
  2. In normal brain the left hemisphere's better cognitive strategies are 'watered down' by the inferior right hemisphere (supports lateralised brain)
• What are the weaknesses of split-brain research?


  1. Issues with generalisation:

  • Causal relationships are hard to establish
  • Sperry's participants behaviour was compared to neurotypical control group without epilepsy = BIG C.V
  • Any differences could be the result of the epilepsy rather than the split brain