Biological- Sperry

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  • Created by: tspence
  • Created on: 10-06-17 11:41
What are the Key Concepts of the Biological Approach?
Attempts to explain behavior through an understanding of biological and neurological processes. This approach assumes that behavior can be explained in terms of the physiological workings of the body and the brain.
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What do physiological psychologists study?
The structure and function of different parts of the brain.
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What is localisation of function?
This relates to whether different regions of the brain are specialised for a particular task and function, e.g. the corpus callosum is investigated and reveled to be important in ensuring information is shared between the two hemispheres.
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What is the Corpus Callosum?
It is a bundles of nerves and fibers that connect the two hemispheres, allowing information to be passed between them.
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Functions of Left Hemipshere
Controls right hand side of the body. Controls the ability to speak, understand language and reason things out.
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Functions of the Right Hemisphere
Controls the left hand side of the body. Specialises in tasks such as drawing, spatial awareness and intuitive tasks.
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What is Contralateral Movements?
Each hemisphere controls the opposite side of the body.
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What is epilepsy?
A violent and uncontrolled electrical discharge in the brain that disrupts normal brain functions. It starts in one hemisphere and spreads the the other.
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What are the two types of seizures?
Grand Mal seizure, which is loss of consciousness and convulsive fits. Petit Mal Seizure which leads to 'absences', loss of concentration, person becomes blank and unresponsive for a few seconds.
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What is Commissurotomy?
In the 1940 an extreme solution to severe epilepsy was developed. The corpus Callosum was cut preventing the spread of an epileptic attack from one hemisphere to another, but also making it impossible for the hemispheres to transfer information.
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What was the effect of having the Commissurotomy?
Split brain patients showed remarkably few side effects and most gained significant relief from their epilepsy.
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What was the Aim of the study?
To investigate the behavioral, neurological and psychological effects of the splitting of the corpus callosum.
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What did sperry state about each hemisphere?
That each hemisphere has slightly different functions and has its own set of memories, inaccessible to the other hemisphere.
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What was the research method?
Quasi Experiment and a series of case studies
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What were the IV and DV?
There was no independent variables or control group. The dependent variable was the participants ability to perform a variety of visual and tactile tasks.
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Who made up the Sample of the study?
11 participants with split brain operations as a result of severe epilepsy ( 2 had the operations some time ago, 9 recently). There was only 60 in the world at the time of the study.
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What were the 3 main tasks?
Tactile Tasks, Visual tasks and Right hemisphere tasks.
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What sort of display was used?
A Tachistoscopic display which projects images on the screen whilst hands were placed out of view.
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How was visual information presented?
The participants with one eye covered centered their gaze on a fixation point in the centre of an upright translucent screen. Visual stimuli on 35mm transparencies were projected onto the screen for 1/10 of second- too fast for the eye to move.
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How was tactile information presented?
Objects were placed in 1 of the ps hands (which were screened from view). the ps had to find the object again with either the same or different hand.
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Visual Tests- What was Visual test 1?
One stimulus was presented at one visual field at a time. The ps covered 1 eye and fixated the other eye at the central point on the screen. An image was projected for 1/10 of the second to either the L or R of the fixation point.
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Visual Tests- What was visual test 2?
Both eyes were used. Two stimuli were presented to two different visual fields at the same time. The ps stared the the fixation point of the 2 images are presented at the same time.
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Visual Tests- What were the ps asked to do?
Participants were asked what they had seen, they were given a pen and in their LEFT hand had to draw what they had seen (hands were hidden)
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Tactile Tests- why were they considered a fair test to the R Hemisphere?
Did not need spoken language to undertake
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Tactile Tests- what were the ps asked to do with 1 hand?
Participants hands are hidden from view. 1. participants asked to find visually presented object from a selection of different objects. 2. Object is placed in one hand and have to identify it. 3. object placed in one hand and ps had to point.
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Tactile Tests- What were the ps asked to do with 2 hands?
Both hands were used, out of view. Given two objects one in each hand, objects taken away an ps had to identify them from a selection of objects. Had to name object too.
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Right Hemisphere Tests- What were they?
1.Left eye was presented with object on screen, ps had to pick it out by touch among similar objects. 2. simple maths problems to Left eye.3. L Hand had to sort geometric shapes by size and texture.
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Right Hemisphere Tests- What were they?
4. Array of shapes presented to both visual fields. the the middle picture of nude presented to L eye only. Participants were asked what they saw and why they were smiling.
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Key Findings- Findings of the Tactile Test
When an object was in the L hand, they could not answer verbally only point to it. When object in R hand could only answer verbally not point to what they had seen. when objects in both hand contradiction of what they were holding.
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Key Findings- Findings of Visual Tasks
When object was shown to L eye they could not say what they had seen only point to it. When object shown to R eye could only say what they had seen and not draw it.
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Key Findings- Findings of Right Hemisphere Tests
They would select similar objects to the target image e.g. watch instead of clock. They were able to do simple maths questions. Able to identify objects but not know what it is e.g. select fork but not know it was a fork. Didn't know why laughing.
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What were the findings about the Left Hemisphere?
Right Visual field, Controls the right hand. The ps can speak to let you know what they saw if stimuli was presented to this hemisphere, cannot draw what they saw.
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What were the key findings on the Right Hemisphere?
Left Visual Field, controls the left hand, participants are not able to tell you what they saw but able to draw it.
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What was the conclusion of the study?
The two hemispheres are not aware of what the other one is doing, and each hemisphere has its own set of memories, perceptions and abilities.
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What is localisation of function?

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Card 4

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What is the Corpus Callosum?

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Card 5

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