Sperry

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Sperrys Split Brain Studies

• A Key Study of the Biological Perspective

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The Study

• Hemisphere disconnection and unity in conscious
  awareness

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Syllabus topic

• The Brain Localization of Function

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Name of Researcher

• Sperry 1968

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Method

• Case Study

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Research Question

• How does severing the corpus callosum change
  mental functioning and conscious awareness?

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Sperrys Laboratory Apparatus
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Our Divided Brain

• The information highway from the eyes to the brain

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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)

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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

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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

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Participants

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

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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

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Strengths of the Study

• Dramatic demonstration of hemispheric
  specialization

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Specialization of Function

• Right Brain
• Visual and spatial skills
• Controls left side of body
• Receives visual signal from left side only

• Left Brain
• Language
• Math calculation
• Controls right side of body
• Receives visual signals from right eye only.

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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

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Key Terms

• Epilepsy
• corpus callosum