split brain studies Flashcards
define split brain operation/reaserch
involves the two hemispheres being surgically separated by cutting the connections between the RH and LH, mainly the corpus callosum.
a surgical procedure used to treat severe epilepsy to reduce the ‘electrical storm’ across hemispheres.
split-brain research studies how the hemispheres function when they cannot communicate with each other.
what was sperrys split brain research procedure.
devised a system to study how two separated hemispheres deal with, for example, speech and vision.
11 split brained participants.
studied using a special set up in which an image could be projected onto a participants’ right visual field (processed by the LH) and the same, or different, image could be projected to the left visual field (processed by the RH).
normal’ brain, the corpus callosum would instantly share the information between both hemispheres.
However, presenting the image to one hemisphere of a split-brain participant meant that the information cannot be conveyed from one hemisphere to the other
what were the findings of Sprerrys split brain reaserch
When a picture of an object was shown to a participants’ right visual field (linked to LH), the participant could describe what was seen.
But they could not do this if the object was shown to the left visual field (RH).
When a picture of an object was shown to a participants’ left visual field (linked to RH),
despite not being able to describe what is seen, they could do the following:
1) Select a matching object behind a screen using their left hand.
2) Select an object closely associated with the picture.
3) If a pinup picture was shown, there was an emotional reaction
