Split brain research and hemispheric Lateralisation Flashcards
Outline- Definition of hemispheric lateralisation.
The idea that two halves of the brain are functional different and that some processes are mainly done by one half and the same for the other.
Outline- Sperry’s research - describing what you see.
-split brain patients (corpus collosum severed)
-an image or word was projected to the right visual field (processed in the left hemi)
-a different word or image was projected to the Left visual field (processed in the right hemi)
Found:
-when an image was flashed to the right visual field the patient could say what it, but if the same image was flashed to the left field they had no idea. Suggests word processing occurs in the left hemisphere as He used words to describe what it was.
Ways to scan patients to investigate activity in the brain.
FMRI- detects changes in blood oxygenation in the brain to see activity.
EEG- records tiny electrical impulses produced by the brains activity. Used to diagnose abnormalities.
Post Mortem examinations- analysed after death.
Outline- Sperry’s research- matching faces
- right hemisphere used for recognising faces
- they showed to the left field and he could recognise it was a face but on the right field he ignored it.
Outline- Sperry’s research- composite words
-a word was presented to either side of the visual field. Key left and ring right.
- with left hand wrote the word key.
- and say the word ring
So- the superiority in terms of drawing tasks is in the right hemisphere
Evaluation- generalisation
-very hard to generalise to others as they’re case studies of individuals with brain problems already so we don’t know if this is the Same for everyone.
Evaluation- good methodology
They used highly standardised procedures.
This means that the study’s results will have been valid and reliable between all participants.
