Core studies - Biological Psychology - Sperry study Flashcards
What is the Corpus Callosum
The region of the brain that connects the two hemispheres in order for them to communicate with one another
What are Hemispheres
The two symmetrical halves oft he brain, left and right, which both have different functions
What is Hemispheric Disconnection
- The split brain operation in which the corpus callosum is severed in order to stop the communication between hemispheres and as a result they act independently
- Given to severe epileptics to stop the ‘storms’ of communication in their brain that cause the seizures
What is Lateralisation of Function
- The belief that the two hemispheres of the brain have different functions
- The left is in charge of language and the right is in charge of spatial awareness
What is Contralateral Control
The belief that the left hemisphere controls the right side of the body and the right hemisphere controls the left side of the body
What is a Tachistoscope
The apparatus used in Sperry’s study to allow the visual stimuli to be presented to the participants
Aim
To record the psychological effects of hemispheric disconnection and to find evidence for lateralisation of function in ‘normal brains’
Sample
- 11 people
- Had the split-brain surgery
- Previously had severe epilepsy
Sampling Method
Opportunity sampling
Research Method
Quasi experiment
What was the IV
Whether the participants had a split brain or not
What was the DV
Their (participants) performance on visual and tactile tasks
What were the 4 tasks
- ONE VISUAL FEILD TASK
- BOTH VISUAL FEILDS TASK
- TACTILE ONE HAND TASK
4.TACTILE BOTH HANDS / DUAL PROCESSING task
Main procedure
- Each p was studied alone
- The p had one eye covered, and was asked to look at a fixed point in the centre of the screen on the Tachistoscope
- Visual stimuli were then projected onto the screen, either to the right visual field of the left visual field
- The images were shown for 0.1 seconds each so the p had no time to change their visual field
What was the procedure for the ONE VISUAL FEILD task
- Each p was shown a visual stimulus on the screen whilst focusing on the central fixation point
- They were shown one image in one visual field
- They were shown the images for 0.1 seconds
- After, they were asked to name what they had seen