Lesson 8 - Split Brain Research

Question 1

What split-brain research has taken place

Answer 1

Surgeons have cut the corpus callosum iot prevent electrical activity caused by epileptic seizures crossing hemispheres

Question 2

Outline an example of split-brain research

Sperry and Gazzaniga(1968)

Set-up

Answer 2

• Split-brain patients were asked to stare at a dot in the centre of a screen
• Information presented in either left or right visual field

Question 3

Outline an example of split-brain research

Sperry and Gazzaniga(1968)

Responses with right visual field (left hemisphere)

Answer 3

• Responses w/ left hand or right hand or verbally (left hemisphere)
-without being able to see what hands were doing

• Dog in right visual field
-answered ‘dog’ because info in left hemisphere where language centres are

Question 4

Outline an example of split-brain research

Sperry and Gazzaniga(1968)

Responses with left visual field (right hemisphere)

Answer 4

• Cat in left visual field
-no answer because info in right hemisphere where NO language centres are

• Can draw picture of cat with left hand because right hemisphere controls hand

Question 5

(-) JW (split-brain patient)

Turk et al(2002)

Answer 5

• Developed capacity to speak with right hemisphere
• Could speak about info in either visual field (more fluent in left)
• Language is not lateralised entirely to left hemisphere

Question 6

(-) Data from split-brain research is very artificial

Answer 6

• In the real world a severed corpus callosum can be compensated

• by use of both visual fields

• Research lacks ecological validity

Question 7

(-) Split brain patients often had drug therapy

Answer 7

• This may affect the way their brain works

* Meaning findings of split-brain research cannot be generalised to target population