by The Open University
Available in 36 free installments
Owner:
In question 1 the word was flashed on the right side of the screen so the information will go to the left hemisphere of the brain. As speech is usually controlled by the left hemisphere the person should be able to name the word. As the left hemisphere also controls the right side of the body the person will be able to pick out a hidden corresponding with their right hand but not with their left hand.
So the answers to question 1 are
(a) yes
(b) yes
(c) no
2 If a word is flashed on the left hand of the screen will a person with a split brain be able to:
| Yes | No | |
|---|---|---|
| (a) name the word | ||
| (b) pick out the corresponding object from behind the screen with their right hand | ||
| (c) pick out the corresponding object from behind the screen with their left hand |
The word is flashed to the left side of the screen so the information will go to the right hemisphere. The person will not be able to name the word and will not be able to pick out a corresponding hidden object with their right hand. This is because the right hemisphere does not control speech or the right side of the body. The right hemisphere controls the left side of the body so the left hand will be able to select a corresponding object.
So the answers to question 2 are the opposite to those for question 1:
(a) no
(b) no
(c) yes
In split brain experiments the techniques used will limit information to one hemisphere only and the person behaves as if they have two separate brains with each hemisphere appearing to operate with no conscious awareness of what is happening in the other hemisphere.
Of course in everyday activities split brain people can operate normally because they can move their eyes and make sure that incoming information is available to both hemispheres. Occasionally odd behaviours do occur, especially in the early days after surgery. A patient might find that they are buttoning up a shirt with one hand and unbuttoning it with the other hand or that their left hand suddenly closes a book that they were engrossed in.
