Right Brain Left Brain

Two hemispheres with different

specializations
 Cortical similarities

Contralateral control over movement

KW 14-3 and skin sencses
Sensory Motor
Integration

KW 10-2
 Visual
Fields

Also contralateral sensation

Right visual world: left brain
Left visual world: right brain

KW 14-17
 Dorsal and
Ventral Streams

KW p.535
Hemispheric differences
Auditory Cortex

KW 9-12
 Processing Music

KW 9-24
 Parietal lobe Assymetry

Parietal larger Temporal larger

KW 14-14
 Parietal lobe
damage

Right: drawings, puzzles, maps

Left: language, naming objects,

Copy movements

KW 14-15
 KW 14-16

Apraxia
 Spatial Cognition

Same figure but different orientation?

KW 14-4
Yes
 Spatial Orientation

Which block is the same as one of left?

KW 14-5
a
 Cognitive
Tasks 1
correct

Men more likely to

Pick correct response

KW 14-21
 Cognitive
Tasks 2

KW 14-21
 Cognitive
Tasks 3

KW 14-21
 Cognitive
Tasks 4

KW 14-21
Connecting
Link between
Hemispheres

Figure 14.1 Two views of the corpus callosum

The corpus callosum is a large set of axons conveying information between the
two hemispheres. (a) A sagittal section through the human brain. (b) A dissection
(viewed from above) in which gray matter has been removed to
expose the corpus callosum.
 Visual Connections to the Hemispheres

Visual Field-what is visible at any moment

Right visual field-->left hemisphere
Left visual field-->right hemisphere
Cutting the Corpus Callosum
Sometimes done to treat severe epilepsy
Behavior is abnormal only when sensory stimuli are limited to
one side of the body
 Split Brain Task 1

KW 14-18
 Split Brain Task 2

Use left hand to

find object
KW 14-19
 Split Brain Task 3

Each hemisphere is capable

of responding independently
KW 14-19
 Visuospacial Processing

KW 14-20
Split Hemispheres
Competition
Soon after surgery you may see competition between activities
on the two sides of the body
Hemispheric Specialization
Left
Speech
Movement sequencing
Detail-oriented
Right
Emotional content of speech
Recognizes emotions in others
Expresses fear and anger
Spatial Relationships
Music perception

Animation
Development of Lateralization
and Handedness

Anatomical Differences between the Hemispheres

Plenum temporale in left hemisphere larger
Corpus Callosum is not fully developed at birth
Handedness does not dramatically affect lateralization
Most left-handed people have left-hemisphere or mixed
dominance for speech
Speech and Handedness
 First communication most likely hand
signals
 Right hand preferred most humans
 Right hand controlled by left brain
 Signal language tied to spoken
language
 Hand gestures to phonemes
 Communication is left hemisphere task
Brain sculpted by experience
 Left hemisphere for
speech
 Right for spatial
tasks
 Both hemispheres
active
 Can be resculpted if
needed
 Brain Science has come along way

 Still many mysteries to be

solved
 Treaments for brain
diseases
 Understanding the causes
 Hope course has given you
the knowledge to follow
these developments