Split Fovea Theory Flashcards
Who are the main proponents of SFT?
Ellis & Brysbeart (see review, 2010)
What is the essence of SFT?
The fovea is split anatomically and functionally down the middle.
What are the implications of SFT for reading?
Information is projected to the contralateral hemisphere; letters on left –> RVF and vice versa
What happens to information projected onto the right hemisphere?
It must be transferred over to the left.
Who found ERP evidence for SFT?
Martin et al (2007).
How did the ERP evidence found back up SFT?
It showed that the letters were not sent to both hemispheres (as in BPT)
Who disagrees with SFT?
Jordan and Paterson, 2008/9
What is needed for SFT research to be valid?
The ppts need to fixate at a very specific location.
What was the problem with the eye trackers used in the majority of SFT research?
There is little information about the spatial and temporal resolution of the equipment, calling accuracy into question
How often to participants fail to fixate at the correct location?
About 50% of the time.
What methodological issues did skeptics have with SFT?
Inappropriate stimuli.
Errors in reviewing literature (eg macular sparing)
What is macular sparing?
A condition that occurs in hemianopia which shows preservation of some areas of the cortex
What does macular sparing provide evidence for?
Overlaps in the hemisphere and foveal regions
Why is it a problem to use split brain patients?
Split brain patients often have a lot of impairments anyway, which were not accounted for in Ellis and Brysbeart’s account of SFT
How did Stevens and Grainger apply Occam’s razor to SFT and BPT?
Remained neutral; “any account of asymmetry should remain as simple as possible until there is evidence to the contrary”
