Sperry (1968) - Split-brain Study

Description

ALEVEL PSYCHOLOGY Flashcards on Sperry (1968) - Split-brain Study, created by Dhara Bechra on 07/05/2017.
Dhara Bechra
Flashcards by Dhara Bechra, updated more than 1 year ago
Dhara Bechra
Created by Dhara Bechra about 7 years ago
43
2

Resource summary

Question Answer
Sperry (1968) - Split-brain Study Right hemisphere controls left side of body and Left hemisphere controls right side. Also same with visual fields. Left hemisphere- dominant, language Right hemisphere- spatial awareness and emotion.
Aims & Research Questions What happens when two halves of brain are disconnected? Does each hemisphere have its own memories, perceptions and concepts? To investigate the effects of hemispheric deconnection on perception and memory.
Research Method Lab Experiment Repeated Measures Design DV: individual's performance in tests of cognition.
Sample Volunteer sample 11 people who suffered from severe epileptic seizures. Had operation to half brain down the corpus callosum to reduce spread of seizures -- The effect was to disconnect the two halves and prevent exchange of information between the hemispheres.
Procedure Pp covered one eye and instructed to look at fixed point in centre of projection screen. Pictures presented to left or rght visual field by projecting slides onto right or left of the screen at very high speed, one picture every 0.1 secs. Below screen was a gap where pp could reach object but not see their hands.
Results If picture was shown to left visual field, pp didn't recognise it when the same picture appeared in the right visual field. If visual material appeared in right visual field, patient could describe it in speech and writing.
Results (2) If visual material appeared in left visual field, patient could identify the object with their left hand but not the right. If visual material was presented to left visual field, patient consistently reported seeing nothing or just a flash of light to their left. However pp could point to object or picture with left their hand.
Results (3) When 2 objects displayed (e.g. case and key) pp's were asked to draw what they saw with their left hand, they drew what was on left half of screen (case), but said they had drawn what was on the right half of the screen (key).
Results (4) When objects place in right hand for identification by touch, pp's could describe it using speech and writing. When objects placed in left hand for identification by touch, pp's made wild guesses and seemed unaware of object in their hand.
Conclusion In split-brain patients, perception in each hemisphere is independent. Info from one visual field or hand passes to only one hemisphere and isn't available to the other. If info passes to right hemisphere, individual cannot respond in writing or speech. (Aphasic and Agraphic)
Conclusion (2) In split-brain patients, memory in each hemisphere is independent. Information from one visual field or hand is remembered only by that hemisphere and can't be accessed by the other.
Evaluation High level of control Quantitative and Qualitative data collected Ethical issues involved in surgery Low EV- doesn't represent real life. Replicable Ungeneralisable to other individuals
Show full summary Hide full summary

Similar

History of Psychology
mia.rigby
Biological Psychology - Stress
Gurdev Manchanda
Bowlby's Theory of Attachment
Jessica Phillips
Memory Key words
Sammy :P
Psychology subject map
Jake Pickup
Psychology A1
Ellie Hughes
Psychology | Unit 4 | Addiction - Explanations
showmestarlight
The Biological Approach to Psychology
Gabby Wood
Chapter 5: Short-term and Working Memory
krupa8711
Cognitive Psychology - Capacity and encoding
T W
The working memory model
Lada Zhdanova