Sperry (1968)

Hemisphere disconnection and unity in consciousness.

Lateralisation of Function

LVF RVF

(Language) LH RH (drawing)

LHS RHS

Lateralisation of Function

LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS 

uses logicdetail oriented

facts rulewords and language

present and pastmath and sciencecan comprehend

knowingacknowledges

order/pattern perceptionknows object name

reality basedforms strategies

practicalsafe

RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS uses feeling"big picture" orientedimagination rulessymbols and imagespresent and futurephilosophy & religioncan "get it" (i.e. meaning)believingappreciatesspatial perceptionknows object functionfantasy basedpresents possibilitiesimpetuousrisk taking

Right Hemisphere

Left Hemisphere

LVF RVF

What did you see?

? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Can you draw (with your left

hand) what you saw?

Right Hemisphere

Left Hemisphere

LVF RVF

What did you see?

Can you draw (with your right hand) what you

saw?

? ? ? ? ? ?

Right Hemisphere

Left Hemisphere

LVF

What did you see?

A question mark

Draw (with your left hand) what

you saw.

RVF

$ ?

$

Participants11 ‘split-brain’ patients who had undergone hemisphere disconnection because they had a history of advanced epilepsy – comparison groups of ‘normal’ people.

Independent Variable – not manipulatedHemisphere disconnection (or not).Dependent Variable Performance on visual and tactile task.

Quasi-experiment (no control over IV)

Visual (t-scope) - Tactile (touchy-feely) - Case Study

Key Terms

• Hemisphere• Corpus callosum• Lateralisation of

function• Quasi-experiment• Case study

• Tactile task• Visual task• Visual Field