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The "split brain" and Roger Wolcott Sperry (1913-1994)
J M S Pearce1, 1
1Department of Neurology, Hull Royal Infirmary, 304 Beverley Road Anlaby, East Yorks, HU10 7BG, UK.
Revue Neurologique
|January 9, 2019
Summary
Roger Sperry's split-brain research revealed the right hemisphere
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neurolinguistics
Background:
- Historically, cerebral localization assigned language and cognition primarily to the dominant (left) hemisphere.
- The non-dominant (right) hemisphere was considered deficient in higher cognitive functions and language capabilities.
Discussion:
- Sperry's Nobel prize-winning split-brain experiments challenged traditional hemispheric specialization.
- Research involved patients who underwent callosal section, effectively separating the cerebral hemispheres.
- These studies demonstrated significant cognitive and language abilities within the previously underestimated minor hemisphere.
Key Insights:
- The minor hemisphere possesses substantial capacity for cognitive understanding and language processing.
- The corpus callosum is crucial for interhemispheric information transfer and functional integration.
Outlook:
- Re-evaluation of hemispheric specialization and interhemispheric communication.
- Implications for understanding brain plasticity and cognitive disorders.