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Sperry

Sperry conducted split-brain studies in the 1960s that demonstrated functional lateralization in the brain. He found that the left hemisphere is specialized for language and processing information from the right visual field/body, while the right hemisphere is specialized for spatial processing and handles the left visual field/body. When objects were shown to only one hemisphere, the participant could identify it nonverbally but not verbally, showing independent memory and perception in each hemisphere. The studies provided evidence that distinct functions are lateralized to each hemisphere.

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Farah Noreen
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57 views

Sperry

Sperry conducted split-brain studies in the 1960s that demonstrated functional lateralization in the brain. He found that the left hemisphere is specialized for language and processing information from the right visual field/body, while the right hemisphere is specialized for spatial processing and handles the left visual field/body. When objects were shown to only one hemisphere, the participant could identify it nonverbally but not verbally, showing independent memory and perception in each hemisphere. The studies provided evidence that distinct functions are lateralized to each hemisphere.

Uploaded by

Farah Noreen
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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AS level Psychology

The Core studies

The Split Brain Studies - R Sperry 1968


THREE Questions... What happens when the two halves of the brain are disconnected? Do the hemispheres perform different functions? Does each hemisphere have its own memories, perceptions and concepts?

Some background.

Why are there two halves to the brain?

The corpus callosum joins the two halves of the brain

A commissurotomy is the division of the two hemispheres by surgery

The two hemispheres


The RIGHT side of the brain processes info from LEFT half of body The LEFT side of brain processes info from RIGHT half of body

VISUAL PATHWAYS CROSS OVER

Brain Functions
The supposition The left half of the brain is specialised for language

linguistic expression both symbolic and logical

The right half of the brain is specialised for perception


visuospatial and artistic

Brain Functions

Can this be supported by evidence?

Sperrys experiment was A NATURAL EXPERIMENT 11 participants Sperrys Ps were epileptics who could not be treated with drugs

The split brain procedure


The subject has one eye covered Gazes at a fixation point on an upright translucent screen slides are projected either side of the fixation point for 1/10th sec

The split brain procedure


What happened? When an object is displayed on one half of the screen (ie the left) and then in the other the P has no recollection of seeing it before

TWO SEPARATE MEMORIES?

The split brain procedure


Speech and writing When an object is displayed in the right visual field (thus processed in the left hemisphere) Ps can describe it in speech and writing

The split brain procedure


Speech and writing When an object is displayed in the left visual field (thus processed in the right hemisphere) Ps insist they have not seen anything BUT

if asked to use the LEFT HAND to point to a matching object on the table can do so, while STILL insisting nothing was seen

The split brain procedure


TWO different objects displayed e.g. CASE and KEY Ps asked to draw what they see with their left hand DREW what was on the LEFT half of the screen (CASE) BUT said they had drawn what was on the RIGHT half of the screen (KEY)

The split brain procedure


OBJECTS placed in RIGHT HAND for IDENTIFICATION BY TOUCH Ps described the object in speech and writing OBJECTS placed in LEFT HAND for IDENTIFICATION BY TOUCH Ps made wild guesses - seemed unaware of object in their hand

The split brain procedure

Two different objects placed in each hand - then hidden for retrieval in pile of items

Each

hand hunts searching for its own object but ...If the left hand picks up the object which the right hand is looking for, the object is rejected but the other hand continues to search!!!

The split brain procedure

An APPLE flashed LEFT side of the screen If the P uses his LEFT HAND to find an apple on the table he cannot name each object he picks up but can pick up the apple If he uses his RIGHT HAND he can name each object he picks up - but cannot SAY what his RIGHT hand is searching for Because the RIGHT hemisphere that could recognise the correct answer gets no feedback from the RIGHT hand

Has the right hemisphere the ability to process language?

The hemisphere that processes language (usually the left) is known as the major hemisphere. The other hemisphere is known as the minor hemisphere. Sperry was able to demonstrate limited language processing ability in the minor (right) hemisphere. In one experiment a picture of a wall clock would be shown to the minor hemisphere, and the patient was able to pick out a wristwatch with the left hand (which is controlled by the right hemisphere).

As a wristwatch is physically nothing like a wall clock, it can be assumed that the patient was not guided by a visual image alone. It is reasonable to assume that semantic processing took place, as the link between the two objects (being their similarity of function) is purely semantic. In another experiment, when the subject was asked to pick out a 'piece of silverware', for example, their left hand could successfully retrieve a fork.

Can the right hemisphere perform calculations?

Sperry was also able to demonstrate that the right hemisphere can perform simple arithmetical calculations. This is normally more efficiently performed within the left hemisphere. Simple sums would be presented to the left visual field, and therefore processed by the right hemisphere. The left hand was able to indicate the answer by pointing to or writing the correct answer.

Emotion in the right hemisphere

The minor (right) hemisphere can express emotion. A pin-up of a nude presented in the left visual field (and hence processed by the right hemisphere) would produce blushing or giggling, but no verbal report of having seen the picture.

Emotion in the right hemisphere


An unpleasant smell presented to the right hemisphere (through the right nostril) would produce the response 'phew' but no verbal report of what the smell was like.

The split brain procedure

Conclusion It seems that one half of the brain does not know what the other half is doing

The split brain procedure

SUMMARY The LEFT hemisphere (in right handed people) is specialised for speech and writing and for the organisation of language It can communicate the visual experiences of the RIGHT VISUAL FIELD and about the experiences of the RIGHT half of the body

The split brain procedure


SUMMARY The RIGHT hemisphere is MUTE and cannot speak or write (aphasic and agraphic) but can show NON VERBALLY that mental processes, centred around the LEFT VISUAL FIELD and the LEFT half of the BODY, are present

Role of each Hemisphere Left Right


Speech Production of speech, comprehension of the literal meaning of speech

Emotional inflections, understanding jokes & humour, sarcasm, emotional content of speech

Role of each Hemisphere Left Right

Auditory System

Sounds related to speech Expressions of happiness

Emotions

Non-language environmental sounds (e.g., rain) Music Expressions of anger, fear, disgust; interpreting the emotional expressions of other people

Role of each Hemisphere Left Right

Vision

Details

Overall configuration; spatial processing (e.g., arranging pieces of a puzzle or drawing a picture)

Role of each Hemisphere Left Right

Mode or Style

(How data are processed) Details, parts, pieces

Gestalt, overall configuration; global form

Role of each Hemisphere Left Right

Spatial Frequency Hypothesis

Low spatial frequencies:

(What data are processed)

few visual changes

High spatial frequency:

many and frequent visual changes

In the following examples what layout do you prefer?

Role of each Hemisphere Left Right


High spatial frequency Low spatial frequencies:

Role of each Hemisphere Right Left


Low spatial frequencies:
High spatial frequency

EVALUATION & Criticism


The Ps were epileptic CAN they be said to represent NORMAL brains?

INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES - some people have more lateralised brains

EVALUATION & Criticism


SEX DIFFERENCES Women have less lateralised brains

Perhaps RIGHT HANDED male brains are more RIGHT <> LEFT specialised? KIMURA reported more aphasia in men who had left brain damage

EVALUATION & Criticism


A REDUCTIONIST explanation for human behaviour (BRAIN not MIND) Most tasks involve a mixture of LEFT and RIGHT brain skills When we hear speech we decode meaning from the WORDS AND the EMOTIONAL TONE in the voice

The split brain procedure


Do

the two halves of the brain represent two minds? Evidence


Hemispherectomy

- the removal of one half of the brain..

the

SELF remained

The split brain procedure


SPERRY

said

When

the brain is disconnected we see two separate selves, each with its own memory and will

The split brain procedure


MACKAY
Not

(1987) said...

TWO people with TWO free wills... but one person who under certain circumstances is liable to show a strange form of absent mindedness

The split brain procedure


What

do you think?

SPERRY - QUESTIONS

Does the size of the sample matter? What was unusual about the participants?

Why was this a NATURAL experiment?


What was the IV?

Are there any ethical problems?

Roger Sperry (1968) was given a NOBEL PRIZE for this research
READ

this study up

THE END

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