Week 2.3: Hemispheric Lateralisation Flashcards
What is hemispheric dominance (lateralization)?
The tendency for one side of the brain to specialize in certain cognitive functions.
Is the brain anatomically symmetrical?
Yes, but functional asymmetries exist between the left and right hemispheres.
What is the advantage of hemispheric lateralization?
It reduces delays caused by long callosal transmission times.
Which hemisphere is usually dominant in most people?
The left hemisphere.
What is the dominant hemisphere responsible for?
Handedness and language.
Which side of the body do most people prefer for tasks like writing or buttoning?
The right hand, controlled by the left (dominant) hemisphere.
Which hemisphere is dominant for language in most individuals?
The left hemisphere, even in many left-handed individuals.
What happens when the left hemisphere language areas are damaged?
Language dysfunction usually occurs.
What are some functions of the non-dominant (usually right) hemisphere?
Visual-spatial skills, social interaction, emotional expression, math processing, and music perception.
What side of the brain is primarily responsible for attending to both sides of the environment?
The right hemisphere.
What condition results from right hemisphere damage causing inattention to the left side?
Neglect syndrome.
What is split-brain syndrome?
A condition resulting from severing the corpus callosum to treat severe epilepsy.
What does severing the corpus callosum prevent?
Seizures from spreading between hemispheres.
In split-brain patients, what happens when an image is shown in the right visual field?
It is processed by the left hemisphere and can be named verbally.
What happens when an image is shown in the left visual field of a split-brain patient?
The right hemisphere sees it but cannot verbalize it.
What is tactile naming in split-brain patients?
If an object is touched with the left hand (processed by the right hemisphere), it cannot be named verbally.
Can split-brain patients name an object held in the right hand?
Yes, because the left (dominant) hemisphere processes it.
What happens to language in the right hemisphere after corpus callosum sectioning?
It becomes mute or agraphic and lacks access to language memory.
Can bi-manual skills learned before the split-brain operation be retained?
Yes, they are not affected.
Can new motor skills learned post-surgery with one hand be transferred to the other?
No, there is no transfer of new skills between hemispheres.
