Lateralisation And Split-Brain research Flashcards
What is the idea of hemispheric lateralisation?
The two halves of the Braun are not exactly alike as although they are structurally identical excluding Broca’s and Wernicke’s area, each hemisphere is lateralised to have functional specialisations e.g neural mechanisms for language are localised primarily in one half of the brain
How come we are able to communicate things in the right hemisphere when language production is located in the left hemisphere?
Our hemispheres are connected via the corpus callosum
How is hemispheric lateralisation studied?
‘Split-brain’ research
How did split-brain research come about?
Surgeons cut the bundle of nerve fibres forming the corpus callosum in an effort to treat severe epilepsy as epileptic seizures are accompanied by intense electrical activity firing across both hemispheres
What is the original study of split-brain research?
Sperry and Gazziniga (1967)
- tested the capabilities of the separated hemispheres
How do visual fields come into play when studying split-brain patients?
. Info from left visual field goes to RH
. Information from right visual field goes to LH
As the corpus callosum has been severed, there is no way of hemispheres communicating, so information presented to one hemisphere cannot be received and processed in the other hemisphere.
The fact that Broca’s and Wernicke’s area are only present in the LH has therefore got significant implications
State which hemisphere is lateralised for emotion, language and facial recognition?
Emotion: Right hemisphere
Facial recognition: right hemisphere
Language: left hemisphere
What is the difference between brain lateralisation and localisation?
Localisation refers to how much a specific function occurs in a specific area of the brain, whereas lateralisation focuses on where the function is most dominant, as it has a similar/same function in different areas of the brain but not at the same level
What is hemispheric lateralisation also known as?
Hemispheric asymmetry
