Detailed Analysis of Split Brain Studies in Psychology

This essay provides an overview of split brain studies, a disconnection syndrome where the corpus callosum is severed, impacting the communication between the brain's hemispheres. The essay explores the significance of these studies in understanding brain lateralization, the specialization of cognitive functions in each hemisphere. It discusses key experiments, including those conducted by Roger Sperry, and the insights gained regarding the roles of the left and right hemispheres, language processing, and visual memory. The essay highlights how these studies have advanced our understanding of neuroscience and psychology, particularly regarding the independent functioning of brain hemispheres when disconnected, and the principles derived from studying patients with split brains. The essay also explores the impact of lateralization and how it affects overall brain function and the implications for the future.

Split brain studies
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Table of contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4
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INTRODUCTION
In recent times, there has been various types of studies that is conducted on brain. This has
enabled in providing relevant info about functioning of brain, hormone reaction, etc. There are
numerous studies being done to study lateralisation of brain (D’Alberto, and Garavan, 2017). So,
in this essay it will be described about how split brain studies have provided info about
lateralisation of function in brain.
MAIN BODY
It has been evaluated that brain is most important part of human body. This is because it
performs various types of functions and control thoughts. However, there are various studies
which has been conducted on brain. This is done to gather more info about how brain function,
works, etc. moreover, split brain is a type of disconnection syndrome that occurs when corpus
callosum in two hemisphere of brain serve to some degree. Basically, it is association of
symptoms produced when there is interference or connection between two hemisphere of brain.
Thus, there are a lot of studies and experiments which are being done to gather info about
lateralisation of brain. Usually, it is brain function for cognitive process to be specialised on one
side (de Haan, and Corballis, 2020). Hence, it shows how human brain spilt into two
hemispheres in it. Besides, it has been analysed Roger Sperry’s did experiment on spilt brain in
1959 – 1968 to find out how lateralisation works in it. Also, experiment was done on cat,
monkey, etc. to study difference between two hemispheres. This enabled him to compare
function in animals with humans. Then, on basis of that studies and research were done to
understand function of corpus callosum. Furthermore, various other experiments were also
conducted with function of left and right hemisphere. Hence, the experiment provided outcomes
of how split brain hemisphere function in corpus callosum. Apart from it, many other
experiments were done as well to study split brain and its lateralisation.
The studies have also enabled to understand about psychology and neuro science. It has resulted
in enhancing knowledge of hemisphere, language process, role of corpus callosum, etc. in split
brain. Besides, varied info is being gathered to find out how lateralisation works. In studies it has
also been found that in split brain if hemisphere is not connected together then they function
independently. Similarly, Sperry did an experiment to with same idea on humans. In research it
is stated that lateralisation of brain assesses language production and visual memory. This is
when human brain produces dopamine (Godfrey‐Smith, 2020). This process results in cerebral
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lateralisation. It shows that left hemisphere of adult is more active than right hemisphere in
producing dopamine during spilt brain. Therefore, more secondary data is gathered that focuses
on lateralisation of brain. It shows connection between two hemispheres and how brain function
in it.
Furthermore, there are some principles which has been derived from spilt brain studies. The
fundamental principles arise from patients who was dealing with issues related to cerebral
hemisphere. Also, sensory and motor studies was done to analyse lateralisation of brain. This
provided outcomes that split brain patients are not able to cross integrate visual information
between their two visual half fields (Prete, and Tommasi, 2018). The neural process occurs in
left side of brain rather than right side. Alongside, brain functions more effectively when corpus
callosum occurs in right side. During evolution, brain size expansion led to functional
lateralisation in order to avoid excessive conduction delays between the hemispheres. Hence, it
was found in study that lateralization of brain disrupts overall functioning during split. However,
it remains same in both animal and human split brain. In studies it has also been found that in
split brain if hemisphere is not connected together then they function independently. There is no
connection between lateralised and non lateralised region in spilt bran. This means that
lateralisation is continuous process in brain.
CONCLUSION
From essay it can be summarised that split brain is disconnection syndrome when two
hemisphere of brain collapse. The studies have provided in depth info about lateralisation of
brain. It has explained that how hemisphere of brain works and what symptoms are produced.
Besides, how disruption of brain occurs in split.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
D’Alberto, N. and Garavan, H., 2017. A split-brain case study on the hemispheric lateralization
of inhibitory control. Neuropsychologia, 99, pp.24-29.
de Haan, E.H.. and Corballis, M., 2020. Split-brain: what we know now and why this is
important for understanding consciousness. Neuropsychology review, 30, pp.224-233.
Godfrey‐Smith, P., 2020. Integration, lateralization, and animal experience. Mind & Language.
Prete, G. and Tommasi, L., 2018. Split-brain patients: Visual biases for faces. Progress in brain
research, 238, pp.271-291.
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