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Sperry’s Split Brain Studies

Sperry’s Split Brain Studies. A Key Study of the Biological Perspective. The Study. Hemisphere disconnection and unity in conscious awareness. Syllabus topic. The Brain: Localization of Function. Name of Researcher. Sperry 1968. Method. Case Study. Research Question.

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Sperry’s Split Brain Studies

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  1. Sperry’s Split Brain Studies A Key Study of the Biological Perspective

  2. The Study • Hemisphere disconnection and unity in conscious awareness

  3. Syllabus topic • The Brain: Localization of Function

  4. Name of Researcher • Sperry 1968

  5. Method • Case Study

  6. Research Question • How does severing the corpus callosum change mental functioning and conscious awareness?

  7. Sperry’s Laboratory Apparatus

  8. Our Divided Brain • The information highway from the eyes to the brain

  9. Independent Variable • Objects were presented to either the Right Hand or the Left Hand • Words shown to the Right Visual Field (RVF) or the Left Visual Field (LVF)

  10. Dependent Variables • Participants asked to identify the object or select the object from a group of out of sight objects • Participants asked to identify the word either verbally or by pointing to a word

  11. “What word did you see?” or “Point with your left hand to the word you saw.” “Look at the dot.” Two words separated by red dot appear projected in front of person. Example • a condition in which the two hemispheres of the brain are isolated by cutting the connecting fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) between them

  12. Participants • Epilepsy patients who had undergone surgery to cut the corpus callosum

  13. Conclusions • The two hemispheres have different abilities and functions • The RH processes information in a synthetic form i.e. seeing the big picture • The LH processes analytically i.e. bit by bit • Participants appeared to have two streams of consciousness • Unlike kidneys and lungs, the two hemispheres are an odd couple

  14. Strengths of the Study • Dramatic demonstration of hemispheric specialization

  15. Right Brain Visual and spatial skills Controls left side of body Receives visual signal from left side only Specialization of Function • Left Brain • Language • Math calculation • Controls right side of body • Receives visual signals from right eye only.

  16. Weaknesses of the study • The Participants had suffered from epilepsy for years • The sample size was small and did not consist of children • Simplistic conclusions about specialization of function

  17. Key Terms • Epilepsy • corpus callosum

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