Split brain research

Question 1

Why do individuals get split brain surgery?

Answer 1

To treat severe epilepsy

Question 2

What is the major side effect of split brain surgery?

Answer 2

The two hemispheres become functionally seperate and act as two seperate, independent brains

Question 3

What is the aim of split brain research?

Answer 3

To investigate the effect of severing the connection between the two hemispheres of the brain (corpus callosum) on functioning

Question 4

What method was used in split brain research?

Answer 4

Natural experiment

Question 5

How many individuals were studied?

Answer 5

11 individuals who had their corpus callosum severed

Question 6

What is the first step of the procedure into split brain research?

Answer 6

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

Question 7

What is the 2nd step of research into split brain?

Answer 7

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 is information only presented to the visual fields 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

Objects seen in the right visual field will be processed by…

Answer 9

the left hemisphere which is responsible for language. This means that split brain patients can name the presented object verbally and in writing

Question 10

Objects sen in the left visual field will be processed by the…

Answer 10

right hemisphere which is responsible for recognition. This means that the split brain patients cant name the presented object but can recognise it by pointing

Question 11

What is the conclusions of split brain research?

Answer 11

-the two hemispheres of the brain have different abilities and functions, but only the left can produce language
-the right hemisphere can recall and identify information but cannot verbalise this