biological area (sperry)

Question 1

background

Answer 1

Sperry had investigated the role of the two hemispheres in cats and monkeys which had had their two hemispheres surgically cut.

Question 2

Lateralisation of function

Answer 2

each hemisphere of the brain has a different function, with the left specialising in language processing

Question 3

Contralateral control

Answer 3

each hemisphere of the brain controls the opposite side of the body and the opposite visual field

Question 4

Corpus callosum

Answer 4

the bundle of nerve fibres that connect and allow communication between the two brain hemispheres

Question 5

Commissurotomy

Answer 5

surgery which was carried out to cut the nerve fibres between the two brain hemispheres (usually to control epilepsy symptoms)

Question 6

aim

Answer 6

Sperry aimed to investigate the function/abilities of each hemisphere of the brain
He also wanted to investigate the effect of de-connecting the two hemispheres of the brain

Question 7

sample

Answer 7

11 patients who had a commissurotomy in order to treat there epilepsy.

two had been operated on several years before the surgery while the other nine had only recently undergone the surgery

compared to controls who had not had surgery.

Question 8

procedure

Answer 8

sperry carried out 2 tasks

visual task- involved investigating what the patients could do when information was flashed on a screen in front of them to one visual field

tactical task - involved investigating what patients could do when then touched an object with one had (

Question 9

visual task

Answer 9

Participants sat down in front of the tachistoscope with one eye covered
They were asked to stare at a fixation point on a screen in front of them and images were flashed up on the screen for 1/10th second

Participants were asked to either:
Name the object verbally
Draw the object
Point to the object from a collection

Question 10

tactical task

Answer 10

Participants sat down with their hands shielded from view

They were asked to pick up objects with one hand from behind the screen

They were then asked to either:
name the object they had felt
point to it from an array of other objects
or pick up the object again

Question 11

findings

Answer 11

the left hemisphere of the brain controls the right side of the body and the right visual fields
The right hemisphere of the brain gets information from the left side of the body and the left visual fields
The left hemisphere of the brain controls language ability

Question 12

conclusions

Answer 12

-With the corpus callosum cut, one side of the brain does not know what the other side is doing
There is lateralisation of brain function: each side of brain has its own specialised roles

Question 13

left hemisphere

Answer 13

Left hemisphere controls speech, writing, language and right side of your body

Question 14

right hemisphere

Answer 14

controls the left side of your body (and LVF in both eyes) and is able to communicate information it has been presented non-verbally