Verified Document

Split Brain Surgery: History And Research Paper

The figure is somewhat lower for left handers, approximately 70%" (Hemisphere specialization, 2010, Macalester University). The fact that some people's right hemispheres do possess the ability to 'speak' enabled further illuminating results to be generated by studying split brain patients: in the case of one split brain operation patient 'Paul,' for example, Paul's right hemisphere was able to express itself alone: "Paul's right hemisphere stated that he wanted to be an automobile racer while his left hemisphere wanted to be a draftsman" (Behavior, 2010, Macalester University). It was as if Paul's different hemispheres had different personalities, even different political opinions. The left side of the brain controls the right side of the individual's body and the right side controls the left hand. Paul wrote with his right-dominated left hand that he wanted to be a presumably exciting occupation -- and that he hated Richard Nixon. The left side, using the right hand said he would prefer a more practical occupation, and expressed a more balanced view of Nixon.

Not all patients' right sides were as verbal as Paul's, and some patients merely experienced difficulty in emotional expressiveness. Other accounts of post-surgery behavior were extremely disturbing in terms of patient's development of split identities. One patient "would sometimes find himself pulling his pants down with one hand and pulling them up with the other. Once, he grabbed his wife with his left hand and shook her violently, with the right hand trying to come to his wife's aid in bringing the left belligerent hand under control. Once, while I [the patient's doctor] was playing horseshoes with the patient in his backyard, he happened to pick up an ax with his left hand. Because it was entirely likely that the more aggressive right hemisphere might be in control, I discretely left the scene-not wanting to be the victim for the test case of which half-brain does society punish or execute," said the doctor who performed the procedure (Dewey 2010).

Sperry received the Nobel Prize for developing the split-brain operation, although for his epileptic patients the operations proved to be a mixed blessing (Dewey 2010). Since the 1950s, when split brain experiments were...

A new form of surgery, devised by P.J. Vogel only "severs a pipe-cleaner-sized cross connection known as the anterior commissure. But the back of the corpus callosum -- the splenium -- he [Vogel] leaves intact" (New developments, 2010, Macalester University). This is good news for individuals suffering from severe epilepsy, given the severity of the unintended consequences of the more radical operation. Still, what was learned from the early patients was valuable, and has been helpful in assisting scientists in understanding human consciousness and helping rehabilitate individuals after traumatic brain injuries.
References

Behavior of split brain patients. (2010). Macalester University. Retrieved April 5,

2010 at http://www.macalester.edu/psychology/whathap/ubnrp/Split_Brain/Behavior.html

A brief history of split brain experiments. (2010). Macalester University. Retrieved April 5,

2010 at http://www.macalester.edu/psychology/whathap/ubnrp/Split_Brain/Pioneers.html

Dewey, Russ. (2010). The split brain operation Chapter 2: The human nervous system.

Psychology: An introduction. Excerpted April 5, 2010 at http://www.psywww.com/intropsych/ch02_human_nervous_system/split-brain_operation.html

Hemisphere specialization. (2010). Macalester University. Retrieved April 5,

2010 at http://www.macalester.edu/psychology/whathap/ubnrp/Split_Brain/Hemispheric_Specialization.html

New developments in split brain surgery. (2010). Macalester University. Retrieved April 5, 2010

at http://www.macalester.edu/psychology/whathap/ubnrp/Split_Brain/Current.html

Palmer, Jerry. (2003, February 2). Split-brain surgery and its effects on behavior. Eastern Kentucky University. Retrieved April 5, 2010 at http://people.eku.edu/palmerj/200/split.htm

Split brain consciousness. (2010). Macalester University. Retrieved April 5, 2010 at http://www.macalester.edu/psychology/whathap/ubnrp/Split_Brain/Split_Brain_Consciousness.html

Sources used in this document:
References

Behavior of split brain patients. (2010). Macalester University. Retrieved April 5,

2010 at http://www.macalester.edu/psychology/whathap/ubnrp/Split_Brain/Behavior.html

A brief history of split brain experiments. (2010). Macalester University. Retrieved April 5,

2010 at http://www.macalester.edu/psychology/whathap/ubnrp/Split_Brain/Pioneers.html
Psychology: An introduction. Excerpted April 5, 2010 at http://www.psywww.com/intropsych/ch02_human_nervous_system/split-brain_operation.html
2010 at http://www.macalester.edu/psychology/whathap/ubnrp/Split_Brain/Hemispheric_Specialization.html
at http://www.macalester.edu/psychology/whathap/ubnrp/Split_Brain/Current.html
Palmer, Jerry. (2003, February 2). Split-brain surgery and its effects on behavior. Eastern Kentucky University. Retrieved April 5, 2010 at http://people.eku.edu/palmerj/200/split.htm
Split brain consciousness. (2010). Macalester University. Retrieved April 5, 2010 at http://www.macalester.edu/psychology/whathap/ubnrp/Split_Brain/Split_Brain_Consciousness.html
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Healthcare in Saudi Arabia Project
Words: 13191 Length: 40 Document Type: Research Proposal

Lack of accountability, transparency and integrity, ineffectiveness, inefficiency and unresponsiveness to human development remain problematic (UNDP). Poverty remains endemic in most Gulf States with health care and opportunities for quality education poor or unavailable, degraded habitats including urban pollution and poor soil conditions from inappropriate farming practices. Social safety nets are also entirely inadequate and all form part of the nexus of poverty that is widely prevalent in Gulf countries.

Personhood an Interdisciplinary Look at the Individual
Words: 5434 Length: 15 Document Type: Term Paper

person within the Christian worldview. Specifically it will discuss technology, the environment, and the media as it relates to my personal Christian worldview. As noted in this course, understanding a worldview can help a person understand other people and all their roles in today's society. Today's culture is broad, and influenced by a variety of sources, from scientific to religious, and they combine to create a contemporary Christian worldview

Seated Fear of the Current State of
Words: 1118 Length: 4 Document Type: Essay

seated fear of the current state of culture as witnessed in television programming. He argued that through the evolution of ideas beginning in literature with horror writers such as Stephen King, and seen in the present in reality TV programs, a sadistic mental illness has encapsulated the collective viewing audience. He used examples from current television reality programming to highlight his ideas and present a very dangerous environment for

Palliative Care
Words: 21397 Length: 70 Document Type: Ghost Writing

Hisory of Palliatve Care Palliative Care Palliative Care Methods Palliative care entails assisting patients get through pain caused by different diseases. The patient may be ailing from any diseases, be it curable or untreatable. Even patient who are sick and almost passing away will need this care. Palliative care has characteristics that differentiate it to hospice care. The key role for palliative care is to help in improving the existence of someone and

Ethics of the Abortion Drug Ru-486
Words: 3913 Length: 15 Document Type: Term Paper

Abortion: Ethical and Political Issues of RU 486 Abortion is a totally unacceptable, cruel and unethical practice and should be considered illegal except under some special cases and medical circumstances that indicate a danger to the mother. Our judicial system must consider the ethical and moral aspects of abortion as an intrinsic part of the problem when approaching this social issue. Even from the practical prospective the abortion pill RU486 has

Hemophilia Is Not One, but
Words: 1361 Length: 5 Document Type: Research Paper

Occurrence of inherited hemophilia is slightly more likely in Caucasians (1.3%) as opposed to African-Americans (1.1%) and Hispanic (1.2%). Asian populations appear to inherit the gene far less likely, about 1/4 of that of Caucasians. However, modern demographics result in marriage between ethnic types far greater than previous, and statistics show a blending to about 1% of most populations (Soucie, et.al., 1998.) Abnormality -- as a genetic occurrence, hemophilia infects

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now