It is a fact that all the basic processes that link to biology underlie all behaviors and several psychology branches rest to degrees that are varying on this biological framework. Psychobiology is one of the psychology branches that deals with studying biological functions and how they are related to a person’s behavior and precisely on the actions of the nervous system and the brain. It also deals with processes that are related to receiving information and stimulation from the surrounding environment with the help of senses; the way by which the brain assembles sensory information to formulate an individual's perception of the environment that is surrounding them; and how all of this affects the behavior and the body of an individual ( Bear & Bloom, 2016). Some of the studies that have been used to represent this significant constituent of psychological research include a number of researches that subsequently are also among the most cited and influential. Some of these studies include:
The right-brain/left-brain program. This program played a key role in providing a foundation on much of the present day knowledge regarding the functionality of the brain. Another study revealed surprising outcomes regarding the facts related to how a childhood that is stimulated can result in a highly developed brain ( Bear & Bloom, 2016). Another study had a representation of the fundamental changes in the way many psychologists think regarding the basic concepts of personality, social interaction, for instance, a new approval for one's genes and human behavior. Another study is based on the intervention of the common visual cliff approach of studying the abilities of infants to perceive depth. All these studies have played a key role in addressing the issue that connects and underlies almost all areas of psychology and moreover, provides the fuel for a continuous and enthralling debate, for instance, the nature-nurture controversy.
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One Brain or Two?
The two parts of the brain are dissimilar and they are naturally made to perform functions that are different. For instance, it is generally known that the left part of the brain is meant for locomotion in the body's right side and vice versa. Afar from this, the brain hemispheres tend to have specialized abilities that are much greater ( Pinto et. al., 2017). In fact, it has become an ordinary knowledge that most people tend to use the left-brain controls for their ability to comprehend language while the right tends to be engaged in spatial relationships, for instance, those required for artistic activities. Patients that are hit with stroke to the left side of their brains tend to lose their ability to communicate in varying degrees. Many people are now having the perception that each half of an individual's brain may be a completely dissimilar and mental system that is separate each having its own individual capabilities for learning, perceiving the environment, remembering and detecting emotions.
The aspect that is underlying this characteristic of the brain tends to rest on scientific research that was done early by Sperry. To efficiently understand the split-brain study, the concepts of human physiology are needed. Moreover, the brain's two hemispheres are in continuous communication with each other with the help of the corpus callosum a configuration composed of almost 200 million fiber nerves ( Pinto et. al., 2017). In the event the corpus callosum split into two, the key line of communication is also disrupted meaning both the brain's two halves must function unconventionally. If there is a need of studying each half of the brain independently there is need to surgically sever the corpus callosum. In the 1950s, medical practitioners together with psychologists used this technique on patients that had very extreme and rare incidences of uncontrollable epilepsy ( Pinto et. al., 2017) . The outcome was that seizures were significantly reduced or eliminated virtually by severing the corpus callosum. Gazzaniga and Sperry used this approach to decide how an individual's intellectual and perpetual skills were influenced by this surgical action.
Theoretical Propositions
The research was aimed at finding the extent to which the brain's two halves are able to function self-reliant and also whether they have abilities that are unique and separate (McGaugh et. Al., 2019). Gazzaniga and Sperry wanted to find answers to key questions. For instance, if the coordination between the two sides of the brain are interrupted in the event the movement of information between the brain's two halves are suddenly interrupted. They also wanted to understand how would the ability of communication of an individual in the form of speaking and comprehending words be impacted in the event that the brain’s left side regulates the language as well as if the reasoning and thinking ability exist in the two halves distinctly.
Method
Three types of tests were used to study a number of perceptual and mental capabilities of the patients. The first one was aimed at scrutinizing the visual abilities of the patient after the surgery. The second one was formulated for the stimulation of touch by the patient. The last testing approach was designed to test the hearing ability. Gazzaniga collectively used these techniques on the 10 patients and the results were as follows.
Results
After the surgery, the level of intelligence, reactions to emotions and personality remained relatively unaffected. Many of the participants had mental abilities that were unusual. Regarding the test related to visual abilities, the findings made was that the brain's right-hand side was blinded and when lights were availed again, both the brain's side saw the light (McGaugh et. Al., 2019). The implication here was that patients failed to see the light since the center for the speech was located on the left part of the brain. Regarding the stimulation of touch test, the outcome was that the left part of the brain was divorced completely in matters to knowledge and perception form the right. Moreover, it was revealed that the right part of the organ can understand the language from the left in a way that is nonverbal. Regarding the auditory tests, the outcome was that the right hemisphere was responsible for the comprehension of language. It was also discovered that the left part of the organ was strongly responsible for speech as compared to its counterpart
Discussion
The general reaction was that the two distinct brains existed within each individual's cranium each having distinct sophisticated abilities.
Significance of Findings
The findings from this study suggest that the two portions of the brain tend to have a number of specified functions and skills. For instance, the left part of the organ is advanced when it comes to reading, speaking, mathematical calculations and writing and is perceived as the epicenter for language. The right part of the brain is responsible for solving problems that are linked to relationships that are spatial, recognition of face recognizing, artistic actions and symbolic reasoning. According to psychobiological scholars, human brains are divided further not just the two hemispheres. It is therefore clear that a number of precise structures in the brain serve specialized behavioral and cognitive purposes ( Eibl-Eibesfeldt, 2017).
Conclusion
With the help of the split-brain study, it is evident that biological places play a significant role in determining the behavioral choices of individuals. Moreover, this test has played a key role in the field of medicine to deal with disorders that are related to psychology, for instance, multiple personality disorder and dissociative among others.
References
Bear, A., & Bloom, P. (2016). A simple task uncovers a postdictive illusion of choice. Psychological science , 27 (6), 914-922.
Eibl-Eibesfeldt, I. (2017). Human ethology . Routledge.
McGaugh, J. L., Berm, F., Prado-Alcal, R. A., & Prado-Alcala, R. A. (2019). Plasticity in the central nervous system: learning and memory . Routledge.
Pinto, Y., Neville, D. A., Otten, M., Corballis, P. M., Lamme, V. A., De Haan, E. H., ... & Fabri, M. (2017). Split brain: divided perception but undivided consciousness. Brain , 140 (5), 1231-1237.
