Lateralisation Of Function

Question 1

Define lateralisation

Answer 1

Lateralisation of the brain refers to the concept that the two hemispheres of the brain have different functionality

Question 2

Contralateral processing involved information for the left visual field being…

Answer 2

Processed in the right hemisphere

Question 3

Contralateral processing involved information from the right visual field being processed in the…

Answer 3

Left hemisphere

Question 4

Aim of sperry

Answer 4

Sperry aimed to show that the hemispheres of the brain had different functions

Question 5

What did sperry study

Answer 5

He studied patients who had received an operation to cut their corpus callosum to control epileptic seizures

Question 6

Method of sperrys split brain procedure

Answer 6

• 11 split brain ps who had a history of epilepsy
• they were asked to stare on a fixed dot on screen
• he was presented images to left or right visual field whilst other eye blindfolded
• he asked ps to name what they say
• sperry was sure they one hemisphere was receiving info at the same time

Question 7

Sperrys findings

Answer 7

• split brain Ps cannot name objects present to their left visual field
• split brain ps can recognise and choose items presented to their left visual field event if they can’t name them

Question 8

Why do objects shown in the right visual field give a response

Answer 8

Because the language centres are also located in the left hemispheres, ps are able to name what they are shown

Question 9

Why do objects shown in the left visual field say they didn’t need anything

Answer 9

Because language centres are located in the left hemisphere, ps were able to make what they are shown

Question 10

Strengths of lateralisation

Answer 10

• research shows there may be a tendency for language function in the left
• potential benefits can help to support multitasking

Question 11

Weakness of lateralisation

Answer 11

• opposing research from plasticity and functional recovery suggest brain can adopt different function
• Waco test shows people can use different hemispheres for language
• need to look at more individual differences

Question 12

Strength of split brain research

Answer 12

• standardised procedure and timings allowed sperry to vary parts of the procedure
• added to our understanding of the mind - different sides of argument

Question 13

Weakness of split brain research

Answer 13

• limits external validity eg sample size, comparison of people without epilepsy, artificial tasks