sperry

• What is a commissurotomy?

  Division of the two hemispheres by surgery
• Why is commissurotomy occasionally performed?

  To improve epilepsy
• What is the corpus callosum?

  A bundle of nerve fibres joining brain halves
• How does the right side of the brain process information?

  Processes information for the left side of the body
• What tasks does the right side of the brain focus on?

  Visuo-spatial tasks
• What does the left side of the brain control?

  Controls the right hand
• What is the primary function of the left hemisphere?

  Language processing
• What are the aims of studying the disconnection of brain hemispheres?

  • Understand effects of disconnection
  • Determine if hemispheres perform different functions
  • Explore if each hemisphere has unique memories and perceptions
• What type of research method was used in the study?

  A quasi experiment - natural experiment
• How many participants were in the study?

  11 participants
• Who were the participants in Sperry's study?

  Epileptics who could not be treated with drugs
• What ethical consideration was addressed in the study?

  Participants had already split corpus callosum
• What was the dependent variable in the study?

  Performance of the tasks
• What was the procedure for presenting images to participants?

  Image projected for a tenth of a second
• How were tactile tasks conducted in the study?

  Hands were not visible to participants
• Why is information presented in one visual field only remembered?

  Only one hemisphere has seen it
• What happens when an object is displayed in the RVF?

  Participants can describe it in speech and writing
• What occurs when an object is displayed in the LVF?

  Participants insist they have not seen anything
• How can participants respond when an object is shown in the LVF?

  Point to a matching object with left hand
• What does the ability to point to a matching object indicate?

  Evidence for two separate memories