Sperry's split brain study

Question 1

What was the aim?

Answer 1

To investigate the effects of the connection of the two hemispheres and prove each hemisphere has different functions.

Question 2

What was the experiment method used?

Answer 2

Quasi experiment

Question 3

What was the design used?

Answer 3

Individual

Question 4

How many participants where there?

Answer 4

11 participants

Question 5

Why where the participants picked?

Answer 5

They had all had there two hemisphere’s disconnected within the last 5 years after there seizures did not respond to drug therapy .

Question 6

How was the study carried out

Answer 6

Participants where sat in a chair and told to look at a certain point,certain objects would briefly flash either side of this point so only one hemisphere could see it.

Question 7

What tasks where participants asked to complete

Answer 7

• told to identify objects seen by right/left eye.

- told to find object they saw on table and identify what it is.

Question 8

What where the results?

Answer 8

• Particpants could only recognize the image as something they’d seen if it was originally been one they’d seen in one visual field.
• if seen in the left visual field they could draw it but name it
• if seen in the right they could name it.
• Participants could pick out objects they’d seen
• the right side woulc carry out simple math
• the left was able to sort objects by,shape,size,texture.

Question 9

What was the conclusion of the study?

Answer 9

The brain consists of two seemingly independent hemispheres ,each with its own consciousness and that there is no transfer of information between the two sides.

Question 10

What where the weakness’s of the study?

Answer 10

• Validity is questionable due to the small sample
• lack ecological validity
• could be consider unethical

Question 11

What where the strengths?

Answer 11

-Was mostly ethical (no lies where told,participants consented)

Question 12

What debate can it be linked to?

Answer 12

Free will/determinism.