Split brain research

Question 1

A01 - Split brain research study

Answer 1

Sperry (1968):
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When split-brain patients were shown an image to their right visual field, they were able to describe in words what they saw. However, when they were shown the same image to their left visual field, they were not able to describe what they saw. This is likely because visual information from the left side is processed in the right hemisphere (the visual cortex is contralateral) and language processing primarily occurs in the left hemisphere. So, the visual data in the right hemisphere could not be shared to the language processing areas in the left hemisphere in order for the split-brain patient to describe what they saw.

Question 2

A03- Split brain research strengths

Answer 2

Evidence supporting hemispheric lateralisation: Sperry’s experiments demonstrate that brain functions are lateralised. For example, if images processed in the right hemisphere can’t be spoken of, this suggests that the image processing and language processing do indeed happen in different hemispheres.

Question 3

Limitation of split brain research AO3

Answer 3

Overly simplified: Sperry’s research often leads to the exaggeration and oversimplification of the different functions of the left and right hemispheres. In reality, functions associated with one hemisphere (e.g. the left) can be carried out or shared by the other hemisphere when necessary.