Biopsychology - Split Brain Research

Question 1

What is split brain?

Answer 1

When patients have had surgery to cut the corpus collosum so the two hemispheres become functionally separate

Question 2

Who conducted split brain research?

Answer 2

Sperry

Question 3

What was the aim of Sperry’s research?

Answer 3

To investigate the effect of severing the connection between the two hemispheres on the brain on functioning

Question 4

What was the method of Sperry’s research?

Answer 4

Natural experiment

Question 5

How many participants did Sperry use?

Answer 5

11 ppts who had their corpus collosum severed due to surgery

Question 6

What was the procedure of Sperry’s research? (1)

Answer 6

1. Participants sit in front of a screen while fixating their gaze on a spot in the middle of the screen

Question 7

What was the procedure of Sperry’s research? (2)

Answer 7

2. Participants were presented with visual information to either their right visual field or left eye visual field for 1/10th of a second.

Question 8

Why was the visual information only presented for 1/10th of a second?

Answer 8

So there is not enough time for the other visual field to switch focus to the visual image

Question 9

What happened when the objects were only seen in the right visual field?

Answer 9

Could be named verbally and in writing as the image was processed by the language centres in the left side of the brain

Question 10

What happened when the objects were only seen in the left visual field?

Answer 10

Could only be identified by pointing but could not be named by the participant

Question 11

What did Sperry conclude?

Answer 11

• The two hemispheres of the brain have different abilities and functions but only the left hemisphere is able to produce language
• The right hemisphere can recall and identify information but cannot verbalise this