Hemispheric Lateralisation

Question 1

Hemispheric lateralisation

Answer 1

Division of function between two hemispheres

Question 2

Who summarise differences between left and right hemispheres and the abilities

Answer 2

Ornstein

Question 3

Left hemisphere

Answer 3

• verbal processing
• sequential processing
• analytical thinking
• logical
• rational
• scientific

Question 4

Right hemisphere

Answer 4

• visual spatial processing
• parallel processing
• emotional
• creative
• intuitive

Question 5

Examples of hemispheric lateralisation

Answer 5

Language centres = Broca’s and wernickes areas

Question 6

Supporting evidence of lateralisation

Answer 6

Split brain research
Sperry and gazzangia
Test capability of the separated hemispheres, able to send visual to just one hemisphere at a time

Found:
- if split brain patient where flashed and object/word in their right visual field the could correctly say it or name it however if a word was flashed Ito the left visual field they said they could not say/name it
- ppts could identify faces if gown in their lef visual field but not the right

Concluded:
- language functions is lateralised in the left hemisphere
- facial recognition is lateralised in the right hemisphere

Useful:
Useful in understanding the role of each hemisphere and the extent to which they are lateralised

Question 7

What are split brain patients

Answer 7

Have their corpus callosum cut to reduce the effects of epilepsy

Question 8

Evidence against hemispheric lateralised

Answer 8

• not all aspects of language and speech are in the left hemisphere
  Stirling
• right hemisphere is better at identifying the emotional aspects of language
  -Damage to right hemisphere equivalent to brocas area causes words to be spoken without emotion
• damage in the right hemisphere equivalent to wernickes area causes difficulty interpreting emotional tone

Question 9

Weaknesses

Answer 9

Oversimplification
- psychologist critique the popular descriptions of logical left brain and intuitive right brain as an oversimplification of facts
- used to explain personality types logical strong left hemispheres where as more creative stronger right hemisphere
- last 5 years fMRIs found that people don’t tend to have strong left/right brain instead they work together communications by mens of corpus callosum and their function overlap

Placitsy of brain

Question 10

What is the corpus collusum

Answer 10

Allows hemispheres to communicate