bio-psych: lateralisation & split-brain research

Question 1

Define lateralisation

Answer 1

The idea that the two halves (hemispheres) of the brain are functionally different

Question 2

Define contralateral wiring

Answer 2

RH = controls movement on left side of body

LH = controls movement on right side of body

Question 3

Define lateralised

Answer 3

performed by 1 hemisphere, rather than the other

Question 4

What is a split-brain operation?

Answer 4

Severing the connections between the RH & LH (Corpus Callosum)

Question 5

What condition does a split-brain operation, reduce?

Answer 5

Epilepsy

Question 6

Who carried out research into people with Split-brain?

Answer 6

Sperry (1968)

Question 7

Outline Sperry’s procedure into Split-brain research

Answer 7

-11 participants with Split-brain

-Image projected to RVF (processed by LH)

-Same image projected to LVF (processed by RH)

-‘Normal’ brain would communicate across hemispheres

-People with Split-brain cannot convey info from 1 hemisphere to other

Question 8

Outline Sperry’s findings into Split-brain research

Answer 8

-Picture shown to RVF (LH) = could identify
-Could NOT identify if shown to LVF (RH)

-LVF (RH) = no verbal labels given, but could match object out of sight

Question 9

Outline Sperry’s conclusions into Split-brain research

Answer 9

-These observations show how certain functions are lateralised in brain

-Support view that LH = verbal & RH = ‘silent’ but emotional

Question 10

Outline 1 strength of Sperry’s research

Answer 10

Research support:
Luck et al 1989, split-brain participants perform better on certain tasks

example: faster at odd one out

supports Sperry’s findings of ‘left brain’ & ‘right brain’ are distinct