40 studies

Rehan Mirza

40 studies that changed psychology

A.P Psychology

Rehan Mirza
40 studies
Rehan Mirza

Study 1:

The aspect of human behavior that researchers were interested in was the two hemispheres of

the brain They found out that for most of us, the left brains controls our ability to use language

and the right brain was useful for spatial relationships, which is used for artistic activities such

as writing, drawing and other activities. The researchers wanted to find out if the brain was

composed of two or one part, and if the two parts perform identical or entirely different

functions. The researchers created three different types of tests to discover and look through a

wide range of mental and perceptual competences of the patients. One of them was designed

to study visual capabilities. The technique would allow a picture of an object, a word, or parts of

words to be communicated just to the visual area in one of the brain hemispheres rather than

both. The second test called for tactile stimulation where test subjects would feel but not see

an object, a block letter, or even a word in cutout block letters. The third test tried auditory

abilities. This was a much harder test to attempt as it is not possible to limit auditory input to

only one side of the brain even in split brain patients. Following the testing period, the patients’

intelligence level, personality, typical, emotional reactions, and so on were relatively

unchanged. They were happy and comforted that they were free from seizures. A conclusion

made from test one was that the right side of the brain is blind and after more tests it was

found out that both halves of the brain had seen the lights and were equally skilled in visual

perception. Combining both visual and tactile together, it was shown that the right hemisphere

could think about and analyze objects well. The last one being the auditory test had similar

results where they had no trouble feeling around into a grab bag hidden from view and pulling

out certain objects like a watch, marble, comb or a coin. This demonstrated that the right
40 studies
Rehan Mirza

hemisphere could comprehend language. The left hemisphere was discovered to be far

superior to the right in speech after being able to rearrange block letters and completing the

task at hand. The discussion talks about how two different brains exist within each person’s

cranium and that it is possible to process twice the information of the two halves were divided.

This is backed up by research evidence that suggests that split brain patients have the ability to

perform two different mental tasks as fast as a normal person can do one. Subsequent research

that has been done in this area was carried out by Sperry, Gazzaniga, and others. They showed

that the two halves of one’s brain have many specialized skills and functions. One’s left brain is

“better” at speaking, writing, mathematical calculations and interpretation. The right brain on

the other hand, possesses superior capabilities for recognizing faces, solving problems involving

spatial relationships, symbolic reasoning and artistic activities The work of Sperry and Gazzaniga

has a continuing influence on modern day split brain research. A evaluation of recent medical

and psychological literature uncovers numerous articles in many fields referring to the early

work of and methodology of Roger Sperry, as well as to some more recent discoveries by

Gazzaniga and his associates. Some findings and work carried out by Sperry, Gazzaniga and

others have seldom been disputed. The only major doubt and uncertainty was rather focused

on the way the idea of right and left brain specialization was filtered down to pop culture and

media. I learned from this study that the brain can work in two halves separately, rather than

failing to operate if not together and work as a whole. The results were surprising to me and

these findings only add on to what I had already known. This study didn’t challenge any of my

beliefs as everything was fairly newfangled to me.

Study 2:
40 studies
Rehan Mirza