Biopsychology: Lateralisation of Function Flashcards
Define hemispheric lateralisation
That the left and right hemisphere of the brain are responsible for different functions
State two functions of the left hemisphere
Language
Logic
Which two brain areas are in the left hemisphere that link to language?
Broca’s area
Wernicke’s area
State two functions of the right hemisphere
Recognition
Creativity
The right hemisphere can only produce rudimentary word and phrases but contributes to …
emotional context of what is being said
What do we mean by contralateral wiring?
Where the hemisphere controls the opposite side of the body e.g. the right hemisphere controls the left side of the body
Which functions are not lateralised as they are in both hemispheres?
Vision
Motor
Somatosensory areas
How does EB contradict lateralisation?
EB regained some language despite having his left hemisphere removed, so language must be in more than the left hemisphere,
Split brain patient have had surgery to treat which disorder.
Epilepsy
What is the name of the connections between the two hemispheres?
Corpus Callosum
What is a major side effect of split brain surgery?
The two hemispheres become functionally separate (independent brains)
What research method was used in the split brain research ?
Natural experiment
How many participants were in the split brain research?
11 participants
In the split brain research, information was presented to the participant’s right or left …
visual field
How long was an image presented to the participants in the split brain research?
1/10th of a second
In split brain research, objects seen in the right visual field can be ….
Named verbally and in writing
In split brain research iff objects are seen in the left visual field can be
Identified by pointing but cannot be named
What can be concluded from split brain research about the left hemisphere?
Only the left can produce language
What can be concluded from split brain research about the right hemisphere?
Recall and identify information but not verbalise this
The split brain research took place in a controlled setting. The techniques used are both …
Objective and empirical
Why is the split brain research criticised for individual differences?
The degree to which the corpus callous was severed greatly for each participant.
In split brain research, why is it hard to establish causal relationships?
Comparing a neurotypical group where no-one had epilepsy to those with split brain, so it is hard to know which has caused the changes in the brain.
