Theory of the brain - Lateralisation Flashcards
What is hemispheric lateralisation?
The brain has two separate halves that are not exactly identical and that each hemisphere has functional specialisations.
What are some examples of hemisphere functional specialisations?
Left - Speech and language production
Right - Visual and motor tasks
How do hemispheres communicate?
through the corpus callosum
What is the corpus callosum?
A bundle of nerve fibres
What is the left hemisphere useful for?
Language
music
analytical tasks
control of the right side of the body
viewing objects visible in the right visual field
What is the right hemisphere useful for?
Emotional content of language
Control of the left side of the body
Drawing
the synthesiser
Face recognition
Spatial tasks
Viewing objects in the left visual field
What is split brain research?
Originated when surgeons began to sever the corpus callosum, anterior commissure, hippocampal commissure, and the massa intermedia as a treatment for epileptic patients.
What are the nerve bundles between the hemispheres?
Cor[us callosum
Anterior commissure
Hippocampal commissure
Massa intermedia
What happens when information enters the right visual field?
Processed by the left hemisphere and mobilised by the right hand
What happens when information enters the left visual field?
Processed by the right hemisphere and mobilised by the left hand
The pps in Sperry’s (1968) split brain experiment?
A quasi experiment
11 pps
Pps where epileptics who could not be treated with drugs
Already had their corpus callosums split
What was the procedure of Sperry’s split brain experiment?
pps gazes at a fixation point on a screen.
slides are projected either side of their fixation point, one visual field or the other
Tactile tasks were carried out with the pps hands underneath a screen so they couldnt see what they were doing.
What was learnt from Sperry’s research?
The LH is responsible for speech and language, the RH specialised in visuo-spatial processing and facial recognition
How does split brain research challenge localisation theory?
Suggests that instead of the brain having specific sections responsible for specific tasks, connectivity between the two hemispheres is more significant.
