Split brain

• What are the main areas of the brain involved in localisation of function?

  Motor, somatosensory, visual, auditory, language
• What is the role of Broca’s area?

  It is responsible for speech production
• What is the function of Wernicke’s area?

  It is responsible for language comprehension
• What is the purpose of split brain research?

  To study hemispheric lateralisation
• What does plasticity refer to in the brain?

  Brain's ability to adapt after trauma
• What are the scanning techniques used to study the brain?

  fMRI, EEGs, ERPs, post-mortem examinations
• What are biological rhythms?

  Patterns of biological activity over time
• What are the three types of biological rhythms?

  Circadian, infradian, ultradian
• What is the effect of endogenous pacemakers on the sleep/wake cycle?

  They regulate internal biological rhythms
• What are exogenous zeitgebers?

  External cues that influence biological rhythms
• What does localisation of function mean?

  Certain functions are located in specific brain areas
• What does hemispheric lateralisation refer to?

  Certain functions are governed by one brain hemisphere
• How do the left and right visual fields relate to the brain hemispheres?

  Left visual field goes to right hemisphere
• What is the role of the corpus callosum?

  It connects the left and right hemispheres
• What happens when information is presented to one hemisphere in a split-brain patient?

  It cannot be transferred to the other hemisphere
• What was the sample size in Sperry's split brain research?

  11 epilepsy patients
• What did Sperry's tactile test involve?

  Patients had to identify objects by touch
• What were the findings of split brain research regarding language?

  Language is primarily processed in the left hemisphere
• How does split brain research contribute to the unity of consciousness debate?

  It shows how hemispheres process information differently
• What did Fink et al (1996) discover about hemispheric activity?

  Different hemispheres are active for global vs. detailed tasks
• What is a limitation of split brain research regarding sample size?

  Small sample size leads to generalisation issues
• Why is the comparison group in split brain research often invalid?

  They usually lack a history of seizures
• What is a criticism of the artificial setups in split brain research?

  They do not reflect real-life conditions
• What does research oversimplify about hemispheric lateralisation?

  It ignores the constant communication between hemispheres
• What did Neilsen et al (2013) find regarding hemispheric dominance?

  No evidence of a dominant side in tasks
• How is lateralisation adaptive according to Rogers et al (2004)?

  It helps animals find food while avoiding predators
• What is an example of brain plasticity after damage?

  Functions taken over by opposite hemisphere
• What ethical considerations are there in split brain research?

  Participants gave consent but may experience stress
• What did Gazzaniga's study reveal about the right hemisphere and emotion?

  Right hemisphere may influence emotional responses
• What is a plausible experimental setup for testing split brain patients?

  Presenting stimuli to RVF or LVF
• What is the definition of lateralisation?

  Certain functions are governed by one side of the brain
• What are the different functions associated with the left and right hemispheres?

  LH: language, logic; RH: creativity, visual tasks
• What did Broca's discovery reveal about the left hemisphere?

  It contains the speech production area
• What did Wernicke's discovery reveal about the left hemisphere?

  It contains the area for understanding language
• How does the right hemisphere contribute to language?

  It produces basic words and emotional tone
• What is the significance of the LH as analyser and RH as synthesiser concept?

  It suggests different processing styles in hemispheres
• What is the definition of localization of function in the brain?

  The idea that certain functions (e.g., language, memory, etc.) have certain locations or areas within the brain
• What is the definition of hemispheric lateralization of function?

  Certain functions are principally governed by one side of the brain (hemisphere)
• What is the corpus callosum?

  The structure that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain, allowing them to communicate
• Why is the corpus callosum important for brain function?

  It allows the left and right hemispheres to communicate and share information