sperry Flashcards
sperry
Sperry’s 1968 study investigated the effects of severing the corpus callosum—the bundle of nerves connecting the brain’s two hemispheres—on individuals with severe epilepsy. This surgical procedure, known as a commissurotomy, effectively created “split-brain” patients, allowing Sperry to explore the distinct functions of the left and right hemispheres. Using a series of visual and tactile experiments, Sperry presented stimuli to either the left or right visual field, which corresponded to processing by the opposite hemisphere. The left hemisphere, typically dominant for language in right-handed individuals, was able to verbally identify and describe objects shown to the right visual field. However, when the same objects were presented to the left visual field—processed by the right hemisphere—patients could not verbally report what they had seen, though they could select matching objects with their left hand, which is controlled by the right hemisphere. These findings demonstrated lateralization of brain function, revealing that while both hemispheres can perceive and respond to stimuli, they operate semi-independently when the corpus callosum is severed. The left hemisphere excels in language and analytical tasks, whereas the right hemisphere is more adept at spatial and non-verbal tasks. Sperry’s work not only provided compelling evidence for hemispheric specialization but also challenged the notion of unified consciousness, showing that each hemisphere can have separate awareness and cognitive processes. This research fundamentally changed our understanding of brain lateralization, consciousness, and the modular nature of cognitive functions.
