Split Brain Research

Question 1

What is Split brain

Answer 1

Split brain patients have had surgery (normally to treat epilepsy) to cut the area that connects the two hemispheres of the brain

Question 2

Outline split Brain Research

Answer 2

Aim- investigate effect of severing the connection between the two hemispheres of brain

Method - lab experiment

Participants - studied 11 individuals who had their corpus collosum severed due to surgery

Question 3

Outline split brain research procedure

Answer 3

Participants sit in front of a screen fixating gaze on a spot in middle of a screen

Participants presented with visual information to either right visual field or left visual field or left eye visual field for 1/10 th of a second

This is so there is not enough time for other visual field to switch focus to visual image

Question 4

Results of split brain research

Answer 4

Objects seen in right visual field will be processed by left hemisphere which is responsible for language

This mean split brain patients can name objects verbally and in writing

Objects seen in left visual field will be processed by right hemisphere responsible for recognition

Mean split brain patients cannot name object but can recognise it by pointing

Question 5

Conclusion of split brain research

Answer 5

Two hemispheres of brain have different abilities

But only left and right can produce language

Question 6

Split brain research Ao3 strength

Answer 6

Scientific methods so uses scientific equiry

Because it based on objective and emphrical techniques such as controlled laboratory setting

Used in order to identify which hemisphere of brain is responsible for which task

E.g patients were only able to say what they saw when image was presented to right visual field , suggests left hemisphere activated during language tasks

Arguably this increases overall internal validity of hemispheric lateralisation research raising psychology’s scientific status

Question 7

Split brain research Ao3 limitation

Answer 7

Individual differences

Degree to which corpus callosm was severed for each patient varied greatley with some have a greater disconnection between two hemispheres than others

Means that there may be some ability to communicate between the two hemispheres

Weakness because research may not truly measure the effects of latersalisation because of the confounding variable

Reduces internal validity of split brain research

Question 8

Split brain research Ao3 limitation

Answer 8

A casual relationship is hard to establish

Sperrys split brain ppts was compared to a neurotypical control group

Whereby non ppts in control group had epilepsy

Could act as a major confounding variable

As differences between 2 groups could have been due to epilepsy rather than split brain

Thus difficult to establish cause and effect whether ppts cognitive abilities and lateralisation are due to split brain or epilepsy, lowering internal validity