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Split Brain

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Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development

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Synonyms

Hemispheric differences; Laterality

Definition

“Split Brain” is a term used to describe an early method of severing the corpus callosum and separating the two hemispheres of the brain. This was done to reduce the spread of seizures. Following this procedure differences were found between the left and right side of the brain; most of this research is attributed to Sperry [1].

Description

Split brain is a relatively rare situation which is usually the result of all other options being exhausted in attempting to control epilepsy and epileptic seizures. It involves the severing of a dense group of nerve fibers which connect the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Agenesis of the corpus callosum is often congenital and is secondary to a malformation that following surgical severing seems to provide clearer left-right differences. The result of having a split brain is typically the inability to name an object that is presented within the left visual field due to the information...

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References

  1. Sperry, R. W. (1961). Cerebral organization and behavior. Science, 133, 1749–1757.

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  2. Sperry, R. W. (1980). Mind-brain interaction: Mentalism, yes; dualism, no. Neuroscience, 5, 195–206.

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  3. Sperry, R. W., Vogel, P. J., & Bogen, J. E. (1970). Syndrome of hemisphere deconnection. In P. Bailey & R. E. Foil (Eds.), Proceedings of the 2nd Pan-American congress of neurology (pp. 195–200). Puerto Rico.

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  4. Turk, D. J., Handy, T. C., & Gazzaniga, M. S. (2005). Can perceptual expertise account for the own-race bias in face recognition? A split-brain study. Cognitive Neuropsychology, 22(7), 877–883.

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  5. Zillmer, E. A., Spiers, M. V., & Culbertson, W. C. (2008). Principles of neuropsychology. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth Press.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, DePauw University, Greencastle, IN, USA

    Matthew J. Holcomb & Raymond S. Dean

Authors
  1. Matthew J. Holcomb
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  2. Raymond S. Dean
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Neurology, Learning and Behavior Center, 230 South 500 East, Suite 100, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84102, USA

    Sam Goldstein Ph.D.

  2. Department of Psychology MS 2C6, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA

    Jack A. Naglieri Ph.D. (Professor of Psychology) (Professor of Psychology)

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© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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J. Holcomb, M., S. Dean, R. (2011). Split Brain. In: Goldstein, S., Naglieri, J.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_2771

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_2771

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-77579-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-79061-9

  • eBook Packages: Behavioral Science

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