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Hemispheric Specialization I

Hemispheric Specialization I. Goals for Today’s Class:. Understand basic concepts of neuropsychology Discuss lateralization/localization of function in the human brain Study hemispheric specialization. Lateralization.

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Hemispheric Specialization I

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  1. Hemispheric Specialization I

  2. Goals for Today’s Class: • Understand basic concepts of neuropsychology • Discuss lateralization/localization of function in the human brain • Study hemispheric specialization

  3. Lateralization • The two different cerebral hemispheres (halves of the brain) DO differ • The hemispheres are connected via the corpus callosum

  4. Common Myths • There is a lot of “pop psychology” about hemispheric specialization • Broad statements like ‘the left brain is logical and the right brain is creative’ are almost always gross over-generalizations • The two hemispheres do NOT operate independently; they communicate constantly, mostly via the corpus callosum

  5. Lateralization • different parts of the brain have different functions • => localization of function • left and right hemispheres are specialized to do different things • => this is known as lateralization. • contralaterality—the right half of your brain controls the left half of your body and vice versa.

  6. Left visual field (LVF) Right visual field (RVF) Right Hemisphere Left Hemisphere

  7. Some True Differences • Left Brain • Controls the right side of the body • Tends to be better suited for language • Receives input from the RIGHT visual field • Right Brain • Controls the left side of the body • Tends to be bettersuited to spatial tasks • Receives input from the LEFT visual field

  8. Visual Field Hemisphere Function L R Language Spatial Tasks L R

  9. How can we study the differences between hemispheres? • Cut corpus callosum of severe epileptics L/R hemispheres will not communicate as quickly as those in normal people OR . . . We could restrict information to either the left or right hemisphere

  10. Overview of Experiment • Q: is the left hemisphere better-suited for language processes or not? • Stimuli: 40 words and 40 nonwords • Half of the stimuli are 3 letters long, the other half 6. • Half of the items are presented to the LVF/RH and half to the RVF/LH. • Words randomly assigned to conditions.

  11. words(40) non-words(40) 3-letters (20) 6-letters (20) 3-letters (20) 6-letters (20) LVF (10) RVF (10) LVF (10) RVF (10) LVF (10) RVF (10) LVF (10) RVF (10)

  12. Design: • IV1: lexicality • with 2 levels: word or nonword • IV2: field of presentation • with 2 levels: RVF or LVF • IV3: number of letters • with 2 levels: 3- or 6 letters • DV1: reaction time • DV2: error rate in %

  13. Instructions: • to begin a trial press the "space bar". • Focus on X. • respond as fast as possible, but also try to avoid making errors.

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