The Split Brain: An Analysis of the Hemispheres of the Brain

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The Split Brain: An Analysis of the Hemispheres of the Brain

Corpus Callosum

The Left Hemisphere

The Right Hemisphere

The left hemisphere serves as the "logical" side.

Example:

Definition:

The Corpus Callosum is a wide axon of neural fibers that connects the two hemispheres. It was revealed by Sperry and Gazzaniga that the Corpus Callosum links the left and right brain together.

Patients with epilepsy have more activity in the corpus callosum than is usual. Their epilepsy was cured when their surgeons cut the corpus callosum, discontinuing communication between the left and right hemispheres.

The brain's right hemisphere serves as the "creative" side.

Examples:

The right cerebral hemisphere is dominant in the perception and identification of environmental and nonverbal sounds; the analysis of geometric and visual space (e.g., depth perception, visual closure); somesthesis (bodily perception), stereognosis (depth perception and three-dimensionality through the senses), the maintenance of the body image; the production of dreams during REM sleep; the perception of most aspects of musical stimuli; and the comprehension and expression of melodic, visual, facial, and verbal emotion.

Many "Right-Brained" Individuals...

• Prefer visual instructions with examples
• Excel in the arts and sports
• Like to read fiction and mystery novels
• Are characterized by their spontaneous and capricious behavior
• Prefer to learn through free exploration
• Can memorize music
• Enjoy dreaming about things that are most likely to never occur
• Are good at geometry

The left cerebral hemisphere is more capable of performing logical, analytical, objective tasks; it is responsible for language and processes in a logical and sequential order. It also controls the movements of right side of the body. It comprehends spoken language by performing phonetic analysis of the sounds. The left hemisphere is able to process with both slow and fast speech where the right brain can only productively comprehend with slow speech.

Many "Left-Brained" Individuals...

• Can read critical analysis and discern the minute details
• Can think better sitting down
• Only remember things that are specifically studied
• Need total quiet to read or study
• Usually do things in a planned or orderly way
• Prefer instructions to be done verbally
• Are skilled at sequencing
• Prefer well structured assignments over open ended ones

Works Cited

H. Eric, Neuroscience for kids,

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/neurok.html

Live Science,

http://www.livescience.com/39373-left-brain-right-brain-myth.html

National Organization for the Disorders of the Corpus Callosum,

http://www.nodcc.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=27

http://hubel.med.harvard.edu/book/b34.htm

Nature,

http://www.nature.com/news/the-split-brain-a-tale-of-two-halves-1.10213

Two Hemispheres

Vocabulary

Perceptual Task- Involves the right hemisphere and is measured by brainwaves, blood flow, and glucose consumption

The Split Brain

Lateralization- Uses the magnetic stimulation to temporarily disrupt left or right brain activity

The brain is a mysterious organ that many neurologists and psychologists have yet to completely understand. The brain is divided into two cerebral hemispheres that serve different purposes and perform distinct functions.

Corpus Callosum- Large band of neural fibers connecting the 2 hemispheres and carrying messages between them

Split Brain- Condition in which the two hemispheres of the brain are isolated by cutting the connecting fibers between them

Examples:

• When looking at the word "HEART" (divided into two parts "HE" and "ART") with only the left eye, a patient claimed she saw the word "ART" but pointed to the word "HE".
• One person can complete two tasks at the same time, such as drawing two different shapes.

Axon- Extension of a neuron that ends in branching terminal fibers