lateralisation and split brain research

Question 1

what does the term lateralisation refer to

Answer 1

the two halves of the brain are not alike they both have ther own specific functions

Question 2

what is the left hemisphere dominant in

Answer 2

language and speech production

Question 3

what is the right hemishere dominant in

Answer 3

visual and motor tasks

Question 4

how do the hemisphere interact

Answer 4

they communicate via the corpus callosum a bundle of nerve fibres that connect the left and the right hemispheres

Question 5

what is special in those with severe epilepsy

Answer 5

their corpus callosum is severed to prevent communication between the two hemispheres , these split brain patients were studies to find information about each specific hemisphere

Question 6

what did roger sperry and michael gazzabiga do

Answer 6

they studies the capabilities of the seperated hemisphere, they were able to send visual information to just one hemisphere at one time to study hemisphere lateralisation

Question 7

what was the method of sperry and gazzaniga research

Answer 7

an image would be rojected on to the patients right visual field which is processed by the left hemisphere and an image is projected to the patients left visual field processed by the right hemisphere

Question 8

what would happen in a normal brain with sperry and gazzangia study

Answer 8

the corpus callosum would share information between both hemispheres giving a complete picture of the world, but in a split brain patient information cannot travel from one hemisphere to the other.

Question 9

what were the result if flashed to the right visual field

Answer 9

if dog was flashed and they were asked what they saw they will say dog this id because visual information is processed by the left hemiphere and the left hemisphere is dominant is language and speech tasks so vocally say dog

Question 10

what were the results if dog flashed to the left visual field

Answer 10

the dog information will be processed by the right hemisphere howver they will be unable to say dog as the right hemisphere cannot communicate with the left hemisphere as the corpus callosum is severed which means the information cannot be gathered by the language centre which is in the left so cannot say name however they can draw with their left hand

Question 11

what about left visual field and touch

Answer 11

when they see it their left visual field and then processed by the right hemisphere they can still identify it by touch throught the left hand as the right hemisphere is dominant in visual and motor tasks

Question 12

what is sperry and gazinga research conclusion

Answer 12

the left hemisphere is broadly responsible for speech and language and the right hemisohere is responsible for visual spatial processing and facial expression, split brain research doesnt show functions being localised to specific reigions

Question 13

what is a strength of application

Answer 13

it has practical application for example the left hemisphere is dominant in language nad speech and right is dominant in visual and motor tasks .

Question 14

what is the evidence for practical application

Answer 14

this has lead to therapies and specific treatments that helps with the recovery of the hemisphere for example if you damage the left hemisphere you may be given speech and language therapy

Question 15

what is the explanation of application

Answer 15

through our undertanding it has lead to effective rehabilitiation programme, that will help target a specific hemisphere to speed up recovery therefore effective in improving the lives of others.

Question 16

what is the point of the pioneering method

Answer 16

one strength is that sperry and gazaniga have used an innovatove method through scientific study of split brain patents

Question 17

what is the evidence of pioneering method

Answer 17

sperrys and gazzingas original method included a blindfolded patient that fixated on a dot as they flashed an image for a tenth of a second

Question 18

what is the explanation for pioneering method

Answer 18

the use of objectiveness and operationalised variable such as time flashed on the screen allows replicability, this is a strength due to individually unique nature it is difficult to obtain such a standised method to use on all split brain patients , however their methods were very effectiove thus the scientific rigour findings and understanding of lateralisation is valid

Question 19

what si the weakness of lateralisation and age

Answer 19

a weakness of lateralisation is that it changes with age, lateralisation function appears to not exactly stay the same thoughoput an individuals life but changes with ageing

Question 20

what is the evidence for lateralisation and age

Answer 20

for example scaflarski found that language becomes more lateralised to the left hemisphere throughout childhood and adolescence but after the age of 25 lateralisation is decreased becomes more bilateral with each decade of life

Question 21

what is the explanation of lateralisation and age

Answer 21

this is a weakness because bilateral suggest the s&g is incomplete as if lateralisation is the brains way of functioning it should be demonstrated in individuals of all ages thus if laterlisation is the brains way of functioning their conclusion is incomplete

Question 22

what is the issue with genralisation

Answer 22

a weakness of research into split brain research that supports lateralisation is that it has issue with genralisability and internal validity

Question 23

what is the evidence for issues with genralisability

Answer 23

sperrys and gazzingas experiment all 11 of the patients had a history of epileptic seizures , and when the corpus callosum was severed, some had connection between the left and right still intact.

Question 24

what is the explanation for issues with genralisaability

Answer 24

this is a problem because the epilepsy may have altered the brain structure and functions of the patients brain therfore genralisation of these split brain patients to neurotypicals will be innacurate decreasing population valdiity also soem of the participants experienced more severed connection than others and some may have other connections and pathways like the anterior commissure therefore we cannot produce a cause and effect relationship due to individual differences thus decreasint the validity of applying the research to other [people