AQA A-LEVEL: Biopsychology - Split Brain Research

SPLIT BRAIN RESEARCH
BACKGROUND

  • In cases of severe epilepsy, surgery can be done to remove the CORPUS COLLUSUM which connects the left and right HEMISPHERES.
  • CORPUS CALLOSUM is responsible for hemispheric communication through nerve fibres called commission fibres
  • In split brain pts, hemispheric communication does not occur 

PROCESSES INVOLVED IN SPLIT BRAIN RESEARCH

  • Split brain pts have a split visual field.
  • Pts sat in front of a screen and were asked to gaze at a fixed point in the centre. 
  • Visual stimuli projected to the right visual field (RVF) or left visual field (LVF) at a high speed, so there's no chance for them to move their head ~~> They're only able to process the image in the visual field it was placed in.

FINDINGS OF SPERRY RESEARCH

  • When words were projected to LVF (goes to the Right hemisphere) the words did not register as the left hemisphere is for language so words need to be presented to the RVF to be registered.

EVALUATION

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
  • We have a bigger understanding of differing functions of the hemispheres. Our scientific understanding of the brain can move forward from real life research.
Split brain research LACKS GENERALISABILITY
  • 10-15 is a limited amount of pts. So the results can't be applied to the whole population
Control group HAD NO HISTORY OF EPILEPSY
  • Harder to establish cause and effect as there could be other explanations for the results that we are not aware of. The control group and pt's are not perfectly matched
Experiment lacked MUNDANE REALISM
  • In real life having a severed corpus callosum can be compensated by the unrestricted use of two eyes rather than one. Results don't tell us about hemispheric functioning in the day to day.

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