Split brain research into Hemispheric lateralisation

Question 1

Hemispheric lateralisation

Answer 1

Idea that two halves of the brain are functionally different and that certain mental processes and behaviours are mainly controlled by one hemisphere.

Question 2

Split brain studies

Answer 2

Sperry’s studies involved a unique group of individuals all of whom had undergone the same surgical procedure called commissurotomy in which their corpus callosum was cut down the middle to separate the two hemispheres to control epilepsy. This allowed Sperry to see which hemispheres were specialised for certain functions

Question 3

Procedure of Sperry’s research

Answer 3

Image projected to individual’s right visual field and another/ same image was projected in the left visual field. In a normal brain, The corpus callosum would share the info between both hemispheres giving a complete picture.

Question 4

Findings

Answer 4

When a image was shown in the right visual field the person can describe what they saw. However if the person was shown the image in the left visual field they would say they didn’t see anything. This is because the right hemisphere lacks language centres so cannot respond verbally while left hemisphere has language centres so can respond if only they see the object from right visual field.

Hint: Due to corpus callosum spilt apart info cannot be passed between both hemispheres.