Biopsychology: Lateralisation of Function

Question 1

Define hemispheric lateralisation

Answer 1

That the left and right hemisphere of the brain are responsible for different functions

Question 2

State two functions of the left hemisphere

Answer 2

Language
Logic

Question 3

Which two brain areas are in the left hemisphere that link to language?

Answer 3

Broca’s area
Wernicke’s area

Question 4

State two functions of the right hemisphere

Answer 4

Recognition
Creativity

Question 5

The right hemisphere can only produce rudimentary word and phrases but contributes to …

Answer 5

emotional context of what is being said

Question 6

What do we mean by contralateral wiring?

Answer 6

Where the hemisphere controls the opposite side of the body e.g. the right hemisphere controls the left side of the body

Question 7

Which functions are not lateralised as they are in both hemispheres?

Answer 7

Vision
Motor
Somatosensory areas

Question 8

How does EB contradict lateralisation?

Answer 8

EB regained some language despite having his left hemisphere removed, so language must be in more than the left hemisphere,

Question 9

Split brain patient have had surgery to treat which disorder.

Answer 9

Epilepsy

Question 10

What is the name of the connections between the two hemispheres?

Answer 10

Corpus Callosum

Question 11

What is a major side effect of split brain surgery?

Answer 11

The two hemispheres become functionally separate (independent brains)

Question 12

What research method was used in the split brain research ?

Answer 12

Natural experiment

Question 13

How many participants were in the split brain research?

Answer 13

11 participants

Question 14

In the split brain research, information was presented to the participant’s right or left …

Answer 14

visual field

Question 15

How long was an image presented to the participants in the split brain research?

Answer 15

1/10th of a second

Question 16

In split brain research, objects seen in the right visual field can be ….

Answer 16

Named verbally and in writing

Question 17

In split brain research iff objects are seen in the left visual field can be

Answer 17

Identified by pointing but cannot be named

Question 18

What can be concluded from split brain research about the left hemisphere?

Answer 18

Only the left can produce language

Question 19

What can be concluded from split brain research about the right hemisphere?

Answer 19

Recall and identify information but not verbalise this

Question 20

The split brain research took place in a controlled setting. The techniques used are both …

Answer 20

Objective and empirical

Question 21

Why is the split brain research criticised for individual differences?

Answer 21

The degree to which the corpus callous was severed greatly for each participant.

Question 22

In split brain research, why is it hard to establish causal relationships?

Answer 22

Comparing a neurotypical group where no-one had epilepsy to those with split brain, so it is hard to know which has caused the changes in the brain.