Literature on Split-Brain and Lateralization of Function

It is still not fully understood whether or not the action of certain tasks is actually dependant on both of the brain hemispheres, because they both appear to have control over some tasks. An example of this, is the left hemisphere which is said to be responsible for the analytic part of the tasks, such as reading and making calculations. Within many individuals, it is also the dominant centre of language

According to the theory of lateralisation developed by Robert Sperry and Robert Ornstein, the cerebral cortex in the two hemispheres perform the same motor and sensory functions but each of the hemisphere is specialized for different tasks. As the brain develops, the left hemisphere is superior in doing tasks that involve speech, language, reading, and writing. The right hemisphere shows superiority in tasks that involves creativity, intuition, facial recognition, non-verbal imagery, musical recognition, sense of direction, play and sports, learning experience and risk-taking. Lateralisation is developed for the task that is done, that is the right hemisphere is used for a particular function. This decision is influenced by genetics, childhood learning experiences and

The human brain is a wondrous invention that has many scientists and researchers very busy to this very day. There are numerous qualities about the brain humans know about, yet there are still a great number of mysteries to the brain and how it functions left to be discovered and shared. Some facts scientists do know about the brain is that it is divided into to primary sections, called hemispheres. Each person has a left and right hemisphere of the brain. Each hemisphere is in charge of specific abilities, tasks, and functions. This paper will review what each hemisphere is responsible for and describe ways that each hemisphere is predisposed to learn.

Two brain structures that could likely be affected by this damage are the frontal lobes and the temporal lobes. The frontal lobe produces speech, controls motor skills, and initiates leading functions such as thinking, personality, emotion and memory. (Huffman, K., Dowdell, K. 2015. Pg. 71). The temporal makes it possible for an individual to hear properly, comprehend language, recollect thoughts, and maintain emotional stability; this lobe also contains the auditory complex, which is responsible for the interpretation

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the correlational method as a means for examining the relationship between functions of the left and right hemispheres. I will compare the performance of people with intact brains with the performance of so-called split-brain patients. In many ways, the brains of these two groups are very similar. 1a. The brain stem is found in the deepest part of the brain. The brainstem controls the automatic survival functions of the body, such as breathing. There are no differences between the function of the normal brainstem and the brain of a split brain patient. The brainstem will still supply the automatic survival functions of the body. 1b. The hippocampus is found in the limbic system along with the amygdala, the hypothalamus. The hippocampus is in charge of allowing the body to process information into memories. Without the hippocampus, there is no way for new memories to be created. There is no anatomical difference between the hippocampus in the normal brain and a split brain. 1c. The corpus callosum is found in the center of the brain. The role it plays as a part of the brain is it connects both the left and right hemispheres of the brain, allowing them to work and interact together as a whole system. The difference between the anatomy of the corpus callosum in a split brain patient versus someone without a

Roger Sperry was a psychologist and neuroscientist whose main work focused on the left and right hemispheres of the brain (Hockenbury and Hockenbury 2014). Roger Sperry’s area of research was categorized as neurophysiology. Sperry’s most famous research dealt with split-brain operations where the corpus callosum has been completely severed (Hockenbury and Hockenbury 2014). The corpus callosum consists of a bundle of neurons that are responsible for the communication between the two hemispheres of the brain. The severance of the corpus callosum was performed in order to treat severe epileptic seizures, which are caused by the unpredictable firing of neurons in one hemisphere transducing to the other hemisphere (Hockenbury and Hockenbury 2014). The separation of the corpus callosum prevents the random firing of neurons caused by epilepsy in one hemisphere from reaching the other hemisphere. The split-brain operations allowed Sperry the opportunity to study the independence and functionality of each hemisphere. Sperry’s early life and education took him on a journey that would lead to split-brain research, the Nobel Prize, and future researchers expanding on his work and knowledge.

Numerous researches and experiments have been done based on whether the human being possess one brain divided into two parts (left and right hemisphere) or whether we have two different brains working together. The psychologist Roger W. Sperry was the first on research this topic with some experiments on animals. Then, he later started working with Michael Gazzaniga. They were able to find split-brain patients. Those patients had their brain split as way of reducing or stopping uncontrollable epilepsy. Many agreed to participate in the experiments. The experiments that they held focused on finding out what kind of limitations would each brain have if they operated independently, how the 5 senses

Describe how an understanding of both a normally functioning brain and a split brain enables us to better appreciate the fact that most information processing takes place outside of

A part in the brain called hippocampus is very important to memory. Hippocampus is the vital key to remembering and it is also vital to emotions. It also helps you make new memories so you aren’t just remembering the past. The cerebral cortex is also very important. It helps you do things without you thinking about them. Examples of what the cerebral cortex does is breathing, how to swallow, or to catch yourself before you

The results of this study show us the brain is not in fact symmetrical and the two hemispheres in the brain work in different ways. The left hemisphere is known to play the dominant role, which is in control of all complex behavioural and cognitive processes as for the right hemisphere it only plays a minor role. This report will further analyse how different the two hemisphers is the dominant side of the brain.

Hippocampus is a small, curved region, which exists in both hemispheres of the brain and plays a vital role in emotions, learning and acquisition of new information. It also contributes majorly to long term memory, which is permanent information stored in the brain. Although long term memory is the last information that can be forgotten, its impairment has become very common nowadays. The dysfunction is exemplified by many neurological disorders such as amnesia. There are two types of amnesia, anterograde and retrograde. Anterograde amnesia is inability in forming new information, while retrograde refers to the loss of the past memory. As suggested by Cipolotti and Bird (2006), hippocampus’s lesions are

“The brain is an incredibly complex organ with differentiated parts. One of the major theories about brain processing, hemisphericity, maintains that each of the brain's two hemispheres possesses unique features and specialize in different functions” (Farmer, 2004, p. 27). Graduate students from Harvard have a difference of opinions from typical research about brain function and learning:

The brain is dividing into several sections, including the cerebellum, the frontal lobe, and the temporal lobe, among others. The temporal lobe exists in two parts, one on each side of the brain close to the ears. It is largely responsible for the memory system (2). On the medial surface of the temporal lobe there are three important structure that are essential for human functioning. These structures are named, in order from rostral to caudal, the olfactory cortex, the amygdala, and the hippocampus. Together these three structures are referred to as the "limbic system" (1). Their functions became understood after studying how the brain functions upon loss of each structure. For example, in 1953, a patient suffering from epilepsy underwent surgery which removed most of his medial temporal lobe (1). After the surgery, the patient was able to remember who he was and was able to carry out coherent, intelligent conversations. However, if the person with whom he was talking left the room, he would have no

discuss how each side of the brain can have negative or positive impacts of solutions, and will

Without the hippocampus, the information from the short-term memory (STM) cannot be stored in long term memory (LTM). The hippocampus is a very important part of the human brain to store our memories. If we lost it, we will lose all our conscious memories. From Henry’s case, it also discovered that there are multiple memory storage areas located at different parts of the brain while the hippocampus is important to consolidate short-term memory to long-term memory. The removal of hippocampus caused Henry to suffer until he died as he lost the ability to make new conscious