Penfields study of the interpretive cortex

• What was the aim of this study?

  To investigate the function of the temporal lobe using the Montreal procedure.
• What was the method of this study?

  Operated on patients with severe epilepsy.

  Could stimulate areas of the brain in a conscious patient who reported their experiences.
• What were the results of this study?

  Temporal lobe stimulation: experiences and feelings (hallucinations) associated with those including deja vu.
• What was the conclusion of this study?

  Area of brain called interpretive cortex stores the personal meaning of previous events.
• What was a negative evaluation of this study?

  Unusual sample.

  All ppts had severe epilepsy so their behaviour may not reflect people with ‘normal‘ brains.
• What is a positive evaluation of this study?

  Precise method.

  He could stimulate the exact same area of the brain and have verbal reports form awake patients.