Split brain research and hemispheric lateralisation

The __________ __________ refers to a bundle of nerve fibres that connect the two hemispheres of the brain.

The corpus callosum is a bundle of __________ __________

__________ is a condition whereby bursts of electrical activity in the brain cause seizures.

Patients with severe __________ have previously had their corpus callosum severed to separate the two hemispheres.

Patients with a history of severe epilepsy who had their corpus callosum severed have been referred to as __________ _________ patients

__________ __________ refers to the idea that certain functions are governed by one hemisphere of the brain.

Sperry conducted split brain research to investigate:

• Localisation of function

• Hemispheric lateralisation

• Plasticity of the brain

• Functional recovery of the brain after trauma

How many split-brain patients took part in Sperry's research?

In his 'recognition by touch' test, Sperry found that:

• Split-brain patients could select by hand out-of-sight objects with their right hand when they were previously shown in their left visual field.

• Split-brain patients could select by hand out-of-sight objects with their right hand when they were previously shown in their right visual field.

• Each hemisphere processes information and controls movement on the same side of the body.

• Each hemisphere processes information and controls movement on the opposite side of the body.

In his 'describe what you see' test, Sperry found that:

• When a picture was presented to split-brain patients' right visual field, they could say what they saw.

• When a picture was presented to split-brain patients' right visual field, they could not say what they saw.

• When a picture was presented to split-brain patients' left visual field, they could not say what they saw.

• When a picture was presented to split-brain patients' left visual field, they could say what they saw.

• The left hemisphere specialises in language.