Roger W. Sperry, pioneer researcher in split-brain research, designed a study that would determine whether severing one’s corpus callosum would have separate and unique abilities (on top of whether they are able to function independently). Roger Sperry’s hypothesis is that if the corpus callosum (link between the left and right hemispheres of the brain) is severed, then each hemisphere of the brain will be simultaneously conscious in different ways during the same event. Roger Sperry and his colleague, Michael Gazzaniga, conducted this experiment by developing three tests, each to test the mental capabilities of the patients through visuals, touch, and auditory simulations. The visual test used a technique that allowed a picture of anything to be transmitted into the visual area (the field) in either the left-brain or right-brain hemispheres (never at the same time). The touch test let participants feel the object but not see it. A visual and touch test was also conducted where a picture of the object was displayed on the screen and the subject needs to find the object that was displayed in the pile of objects behind the screen. The auditory test tested responses to verbal input. To do this, Gazzaniga told subjects to place different hands in the bag and find different objects. The results of these simulations demonstrated many unusual abilities from the subjects. The results of the visual test are that when something was flashed to the right side, the subjects were able to identify it, while when something was flashed to the left side, the subjects were able to see it, but were not able to say it (both hemispheres lit up with activity, indicating equal skill in visual perception). This concludes that the left hemisphere of the brain is responsible for speech. The results of the touch test are that when the object was in the subject’s right hand, they were able to recognize the object, while when the object was placed in the subject’s left hand, they were not able to say or describe what it was. This shows that the left hemisphere is responsible for verbal identification (able to identify stuff). The results of the visual and touch test are that the right hemisphere was able to think about and analyze objects well, while the left hemisphere was able to put this identification into speech. The results of the auditory tests concluded that the right hemisphere comprehended language and artistic abilities while the left hemisphere was superior for speech. There was also a hidden fourth test, where the researchers tested emotional reactions by flashing a picture of a nude woman to either sides of the screen, proving that the subjects’ emotional reactions are still the same, it just couldn't be described when flashed to the left of the screen. The significance of the findings confirmed that the two halves of your brain have many specialized skills and functions. The left brain is superior for speaking, writing, mathematical calculation, and reading (it is the primary center for language). The right brain is superior for recognizing faces, solving problems involving spatial relationships, symbolic reasoning, and artistic activities. Gazzaniga and Sperry also justified that each hemisphere of the brain is truly a mind of its own. Although there were criticisms, specifically from Jarre Levy stating that integration of the hemispheres is better than separating them (better together than separate), these findings were widely accepted. It can be concluded that this was not an experiment. This is due to the fact that there was no control group, only has an experimental groups. In the method section of the study, it only states the use of patients whose corpus callosum has been severed. It is also clearly stated in the introductory section that in order to conduct split-brain research, Sperry and Gazzaniga will have to use those whose corpus callosum has been severed. Although there were mentions of stuff we (those that have their hemispheres connected) can easily do when compared to the subjects, it is not considered a control group because people with intact brains did not do the same experiments that the subjects did. This study was ethical, according to the ethical guidelines of psychology. One guideline that was proven in this study was the guideline of informed consent. In the last paragraph of the introductory section, it clearly states that “10 such operations (severing of the corpus callosum) had been undertaken, and four of the patients consented to participate in examination and testing by Sperry and Gazzaniga”. This proves that the patients gave their consent to these tests. Another guideline that was proven in this study was the guideline of limited use of deception. The subjects were not informed of the emotional reactions tests that was simultaneously conducted during the visual test.
