Lateralisation Flashcards
What is Lateralisation?
The theory that 2 halves of the brain are functionally different & certain mental processes and behaviours are mainly controlled by 1 hemisphere.
What is a Corpus Callostomy?
Where the Corpus Callosum is severed so the 2 hemispheres are separated and can’t communicate with each other.
What is the corpus callosum?
A thick bundle of nerve fibres that connect the two hemispheres of the brain
When are corpus callostomies performed?
To control frequent & severe epileptic fits that couldn’t be treated with medication in the 1960s.
(People at risk of grand mal seizures)
What are grand mal seizures?
Epileptic fits so severe they can lead to death
Who carried out an investigation on people who had had corpus callostomies?
Roger Sperry
What was the aim of Sperry’s research?
To investigate what functions of the brain are lateralised?
What was the procedure in Sperry’s study?
Different activities were tried with the participants including touch of objects & visual presentation of stimuli to see how the different sides of the brain perform in tasks.
Who were the participants in Sperry’s study?
11 people who had had a corpus callostomy & 11 who hadn’t.
What experimental design was Sperry’s study
A lab, quazi experiment
