Right Brain Left Brain
Two hemispheres with different
specializations
Cortical similarities
KW 14-3
Contralateral control over movement
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
KW 14-14
Temporal larger
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
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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
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Left hemisphere for
speech
Right for spatial
tasks
Both hemispheres
active
Can be resculpted if
needed
Brain Science has come along way
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Still many mysteries to be
solved
Treaments for brain
diseases
Understanding the causes
Hope course has given you
the knowledge to follow
these developments