Split brain

• The brain


  • Split into two hemispheres (halves)
  • Right hemisphere
  • Left hemisphere
• Corpus callosum


  Connects the two hemispheres
• Functions in each hemisphere

  • Different functions are dominant in each hemisphere
  • Left hemisphere handles language, logic, analysis and problem solving
  • Right hemisphere handles spatial comprehension, emotions and face recognition
• Hemispheric lateralisation of function


  The specialisation of different functions in each hemisphere
• Information from the right visual field


  Goes to the visual cortex in the left hemisphere
• Information from the left visual field


  Goes to the visual cortex in the right hemisphere
• Information passing through the corpus callosum


  Whichever side of the brain needs to deal with it
• Split brain surgery


  Severs the corpus callosum to stop seizures spreading across the brain
• A side effect of splitting the hemispheres is that information can no longer move between them
• Sperry's study on split brain patients

  • Used a combination of case studies and experiments
  • Participants had undergone split brain surgery for epilepsy
  • Showed that different areas of the brain specialise in different functions
  • Information entering the right hemisphere can't be converted into language in split brains
• The study used a small sample size of 11 participants, which makes it difficult to generalise the results
• The study has been criticised for low ecological validity as the experimental situation was artificial