Lesson 7-lateralisation of functioning

Question 1

brain lateralisation

Answer 1

refers to the idea that two halves of the human brain are not exactly alike and each hemisphere has specialised functions
-two hemispheres connected by corpus callosum, communicator between the two
-severe eplilepsy; surgeons cut the bundle of nerve fibres that formed the corpus callosum, carried out to prevent violent electrical activity that accompanied the eplileptic seizures crossing from one hemisphere to the other

Question 2

brain lateralisation strengths

Answer 2

-Rogers et al (2004) found that in the domestic chicken brain lateralisation is associated with an enahnced ability to perform two tasks simultaneously-finding food and being vigilant for predators, finding does provide evidence that brain lateralisation enhances brain efficiency in cognitive tasks that demand simultaneous but different use of both hemispheres
-lateralisation means we can study left handedness and why they may be prone to allergies and illness, people who are left handed tend to suffer higher rates of allergies and problems with the immune system, Tonnessen et al (1993) found a small but significant relationship between handedness and immune system disorders suggesting a link between lateralisation and development of immune system

Question 3

brain lateralisation weaknesses

Answer 3

-lateralisation changes with age, Szaflarski et al (2006) found that language became more lateralised to the left hemisphere up to the age of 25 but decreased after that, suggests we should be cautious in assuming brain lateralisation is set in stone throughout life, only relevant up to a certain age
-does not explain brain plasticity since studies have shown having one hemisphere damaged does not mean the individual will have an abnormal brain, other hemispheres can compensate for damaged areas, suggests brain plasticity can overcome potential limitations associated with lateralisation