Split-brain research

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  • Created by: EloiseMay
  • Created on: 20-03-18 23:58

AO1                                                                                                                                                         

Hemispheric lateralisation: As language is controlled by the left hemisphere, it is subject to hemispheric lateralisation which means that specialised areas associated with language are found in one hemisphere rather than both. 

Split-brain studies: They had undergone commissurotomy which cuts the corpus callosum that separates the hemispheres. This was done to control epileptic seizures. Thus, the main communication line between the hems was removed. This allowed Sperry to see the extent to which the hemispheres were specialised for certain functions.

Procedure: Sperry designed a procedure which involved an image being shown to the right visual field (processed by left hem) and the same or different image being shown to the left visual field (processed by right hem). When presented to a split-brain patient, the info can't be conveyed from one hemisphere to the other.

Findings: When a picture was shown to the right visual field they could describe it but they couldn't when it was shown to their left visual field. As messages in the right hemisphere couldn't be relayed to language centres in the left hem. When the image was shown to the left visual field they could pick it up with the left hand when it was placed behind a screen. They could understand what they had seen using the right hem and select the object. When two words were displayed simultaneously to each visual field, they could write the first word

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