Lateralisation and split brain research A01 AND A03:
Define hemispheric lateralisation:
The idea that the two hemispheres of the brain are split for different
functional mental processes. Behaviour is controlled by one hemisphere
rather than the other, such as language, which is localised as well as
lateralized.
Define split brain research:
1960-present day, involving epileptic patients with a surgical procedure of
severing the corpus callosum to reduce the effects of epilepsy. This enab-
led researchers to test lateral functions in the brain
For some functions, the localised areas appear in both hemispheres, for example, VISION- the visual
component is in the left and right occipital lobe, which is in the LH and RH.
● Language processing is predominantly localised in the left hemisphere (LH), with Broca's area in the
left frontal lobe and Wernicke's area in the left temporal lobe.
● Language is considered lateralized, meaning it is performed by one hemisphere, usually the LH.
● The right hemisphere (RH) contributes emotional context to speech and can produce rudimentary
words and phrases.
● The LH is often seen as the analyzer, while the RH is considered the synthesiser in language
processing.
● Functions like vision, motor skills, and somatosensory areas exist in both hemispheres.
● In the motor area, there's contralateral wiring, where the RH controls the left side of the body, and the
LH controls the right side
● Vision involves both contralateral and ipsilateral connections; each eye's left visual field connects to
the RH, and the right visual field connects to the LH.
● This arrangement allows visual areas to compare perspectives from both eyes, aiding depth
perception.
● Auditory input follows a similar arrangement, helping us locate the source of sounds through
disparities from both ears.
TASK ON NEXT PAGE
(complete to consolidate some understanding)
Define hemispheric lateralisation:
The idea that the two hemispheres of the brain are split for different
functional mental processes. Behaviour is controlled by one hemisphere
rather than the other, such as language, which is localised as well as
lateralized.
Define split brain research:
1960-present day, involving epileptic patients with a surgical procedure of
severing the corpus callosum to reduce the effects of epilepsy. This enab-
led researchers to test lateral functions in the brain
For some functions, the localised areas appear in both hemispheres, for example, VISION- the visual
component is in the left and right occipital lobe, which is in the LH and RH.
● Language processing is predominantly localised in the left hemisphere (LH), with Broca's area in the
left frontal lobe and Wernicke's area in the left temporal lobe.
● Language is considered lateralized, meaning it is performed by one hemisphere, usually the LH.
● The right hemisphere (RH) contributes emotional context to speech and can produce rudimentary
words and phrases.
● The LH is often seen as the analyzer, while the RH is considered the synthesiser in language
processing.
● Functions like vision, motor skills, and somatosensory areas exist in both hemispheres.
● In the motor area, there's contralateral wiring, where the RH controls the left side of the body, and the
LH controls the right side
● Vision involves both contralateral and ipsilateral connections; each eye's left visual field connects to
the RH, and the right visual field connects to the LH.
● This arrangement allows visual areas to compare perspectives from both eyes, aiding depth
perception.
● Auditory input follows a similar arrangement, helping us locate the source of sounds through
disparities from both ears.
TASK ON NEXT PAGE
(complete to consolidate some understanding)
