Hemispheric lateralisation Flashcards
1
Q
What is hemispheric lateralisation?
A
- Refers to the idea that the two hemispheres of the brain each have specialised functions.
- Whilst both hemispheres work together and are involved in most cognitive processes, certain functions tend to be more dominant in one hemisphere than the other.
2
Q
Hemispheres and dominant functions
A
- Left hemisphere= language.
- Right hemisphere= visual, spatial and motor tasks.
3
Q
What does the term contralateral mean?
A
- Each hemisphere controls and processes info from the opposite side of the body.
4
Q
Who are split brain patients?
A
- Individuals who have suffered from severe epilepsy and as a last resort treatment have had to have their corpus callosum cut.
- This disconnects the 2 hemispheres.
- These patients offer psychologists the opportunity to study the extent to which brain function is lateralised.
5
Q
Define corpus callosum
A
- The main bundle of nerve fibres that connects the 2 hemispheres.
6
Q
Research to support hemispheric lateralisation (Sperry)- Who? Sample?
A
- 11 case studies of split brain patients who had undergone surgery to cut their corpus callosum.
- This allowed Sperry to study hemispheric lateralisation under controlled conditions.
- Scientific cred.
7
Q
What was Sperry’s procedure?
A
- Sat ppt down in front of a screen with a dot in the middle (tachistoscope).
- This split their visual field.
- Words or images were presented very briefly to either the RVF or LVF.
- There were 3 tasks that they were given.
8
Q
What are the 3 tasks/ conditions in Sperry’s research? + Results
A
- Describe what they saw= LH + RVF- yes, RH + LVF- no.
- Tactile test (describe object they were holding)= LH + RVF- yes, RH + LVF- no.
- Draw what they saw= LH + RVF- no, RH + LVF- yes.
9
Q
What do the findings in Sperry’s study tell us?
A
- Tell us that language is dominant in the left hemisphere, supporting the idea of hemispheric lateralisation.
