Ch. 4- Split Brains and Lateralization

Question 1

anatomy of the corpus callosum

Answer 1

trans-callosal fibers generally project to homotopic regions (same anatomical location from which they originate)

may also project to heterotopic regions in both hemispheres

Question 2

language lateralization

Answer 2

left hemisphere more tuned to verbal language

right hem can make simple inferences about language

Question 3

lateralization of face processing

Answer 3

right hem better at visuospatial tasks and detecting/discriminating between faces (more active in MRI during processing of upright faces)

right hem better at discriminating faces of others, and left is better at discriminating one’s own face

Question 4

lateralization of emotion processing

Answer 4

emotion is processed more in the right hem -> leads to an asymmetry in expression

emotion perception is also lateralized-> people perceive emotion as stronger when it is in the left visual field

Question 5

lateralization of attention

Answer 5

attentional direction is a shared resource that is available to both hemispheres

Question 6

left hemisphere interpreter

Answer 6

we justify behavior we can’t verbally explain & that is unrelated to the stimuli given, even though researchers know the experimental reasons for why that behavior occurs. Gazzaniga believes this interpreter is in the left hem

Question 7

matching vs maximizing

Answer 7

left hem tries to figure out pattern in stimuli or behavior (matching), while right hem tries to guess which of the two events might occur more by guessing the other more (maximizing).