The idea that the two halves of the brain are functionally different
1 of 12
What are split brain patients?
Both hemispheres joined by corpus callosum=how they communicate, cutting this helped people with severe epilepsy+provided way of studying the hemispheres
2 of 12
How does processing in a normal brain work?
Info from right process by left+vice versa, then passes across corpus callosum
3 of 12
How does processing work in a split brain?
Info cannot pass across so only processed by one side of the brain, split-brain Ps still able to live normal lives
4 of 12
Participants of split brain studies conducted by Sperry
11 split brain Ps with history of advanced epilepsy, quasi-exp comparing their performance on tasks with Ps without split brains
5 of 12
Procedure of this experiment
P had one eye covered, looked at fixed point on screen, pictures projected at 1/10s to prevent eye movement, below screen was gap with objects that could not be seen, images/words shown to either hemisphere
6 of 12
Findings of this research - describing what you see
When shown to right it could be described, when shown to left P could not=could not be described due to lack of language centres in right hemisphere
7 of 12
Findings - recognition by touch
Objects behind screen so not seen, image presented to left, P could select matching object by touch with left hand=could not verbally describe it
8 of 12
What can be concluded from this study?
Supports lateralisation of function=diff hemispheres specialise in diff tasks, further trials found right brain dominant in creative tasks+facial recognition
9 of 12
Methodological+ethical strengths of this study
Quasi method allowing investigation of variables in lab exp that would not be ethical otherwise, Sperry's work is hailed for developing technique for hemisphere study+high control of variables so cause+effect can be inferred
10 of 12
Issues with Sperry's sample
Is unrepresentative, only 11 Ps in each condition+epilepsy may have caused the changes+control group were Ps with no history of epilepsy which may be a confounding variable+issues with generalisation
11 of 12
Problem with generalising between differences in the hemispheres
Growing body of pop-psychology overemphasies+simplifies functional distinction, two hemispheres in constant communication
12 of 12
Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
What are split brain patients?
Back
Both hemispheres joined by corpus callosum=how they communicate, cutting this helped people with severe epilepsy+provided way of studying the hemispheres
Card 3
Front
How does processing in a normal brain work?
Back
Card 4
Front
How does processing work in a split brain?
Back
Card 5
Front
Participants of split brain studies conducted by Sperry
Comments
No comments have yet been made