Sperry

Question 1

Sperry’s aim

Answer 1

To identify the effects of corpus callosum deconnection and identifying different areas of the brain and what the two hemispheres are responsible for

Question 2

How many people in Spery’s sample?

Answer 2

11

Question 3

Describe Sperry’s sample

Answer 3

• 11 participants
• Mixed genders
• All have severe epilepsy
• All underwent split-brain surgery
• All were right-handed

Question 4

What design was Sperry’s experiment and how do you know?

Answer 4

Sperry used a quasi-experiment as the independent variable (whether the participants had split brain surgery) was not directly manipulated by Sperry and was naturally occurring

Question 5

What are examples of what left hemisphere of the brain responsible for?

Answer 5

• Language
• Logic
• Maths

Question 6

What are examples of what right hemisphere of the brain responsible for?

Answer 6

• Images
• Imagination
• Navigation
• Creativity

Question 7

What was the dependant variable of Sperry’s study?

Answer 7

The participant’s ability and performance on the tactile and visual tasks

Question 8

What was the datatype used in Sperry’s study and how do you know?

Answer 8

Qualitative data

-The results from the tactility and visual tests where descriptive and did not use numerical values

Question 9

Name two advantages of the datatype used in Sperry’s study

Answer 9

• Qualitative data is rich in detail and insight

- Key details are less likely to missed

Question 10

Name two disadvantages of the datatype used in Sperry’s study

Answer 10

• Qualitative data is less easy to compare and analyse than quantitative data
• Reduces reliability

Question 11

What is the key theme of the biological area?

Answer 11

Regions of the brain

Question 12

What is split-brain surgery and why did the participants have it?

Answer 12

• Split-brain surgery is the process of severing the corpus callosum in the brain
• The participants suffered with severe epilepsy and found no benefit from medication. The surgery reduced seizures and other symptoms as the electrical storm that travels across the hemispheres during epileptic episodes could not pass between the two hemispheres without a functioning corpus callosum.

Question 13

What experimental design was used in Sperry’s study and how do you know?

Answer 13

Independent measures design

-Each participant only took part in one of the experiment’s conditions

Question 14

What sampling method did Sperry use and how do you know?

Answer 14

Opportunity sampling

-Sperry used a group of people who had undergone split-brain surgery, and that were available for his own study

Question 15

Name one conclusion from Sperry’s study

Answer 15

• Split-brain patients seem to have two independent streams of consciousness, each with its own memories, perceptions and impulses, like two minds in one body
• Hemisphere deconnection effects our abilities to carry out tasks