Hemispheric Lateralisation

Question 1

Hemispheric Lateralisation

Answer 1

The brain is lateralised i.e. two sides (hemispheres)

Question 2

Localised

Answer 2

Some functions are localised and appear in both left and right hemispheres

Question 3

Contralateral

Answer 3

on the opposite side of the body from another structure

Question 4

Contralateral + Ipsilateral

Answer 4

-Left visual field (LVF) of both eyes is connected to the RH and right visual field (RVF) of both eyes is connected to the LH
-Enables the visual areas to compare the slightly different perspective from each eye and aids depth perception
-Same arrangement for auditory areas

Question 5

A03 (Evidence Of Lateralised Brain Functions In Neurotypical Brains)

Answer 5

E- PET scans show when neurotypical participants attend to global elements of an image, the RH more active. When required to focus on finer detail the specific areas of the LH tend to dominate
E- This suggests that hemispheric lateralisation is a feature of the neurotypical brain as well as the split-brain.

Question 6

A03 (Idea Of Analyser Versus Synthesiser Brain May Be Wrong)

Answer 6

E- There may be different functions in the RH and LH but research suggests people do not have a dominant side, creating a different personality. Nielsen at al. analysed 1000 brain scans, finding people did use certain hemispheres for certain tasks but no dominance.
E- This suggests that the notion of right- or left- brained people is wrong.

Question 7

A03 (Lateralisation Versus Plasticity)

Answer 7

E- Lateralisation is adaptive, enabling two simultaneous tasks with greater efficiency, e.g. only lateralised chickens are better at finding food while watching for predators. On the other hand, neural plasticity is also adaptive. After damage to brain, language function can ‘switch sides’
E- This seems to suggest that lateralisation is first preference but ultimately plasticity is more important because it deals with loss of lateralisation.