A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

According to Sperry et al (1968), which of the following was observed in the dual processing tactile task?

1. Both hands worked together effectively

2. Each hand ignored its counterpart's object

3. Participants chose objects based on visual memory

4. Participants could verbalize their choices

The correct answer is: Each hand ignored its counterpart's object

In the dual processing tactile task conducted by Sperry et al. (1968), it was indeed observed that each hand effectively ignored the object held by its counterpart. This phenomenon is rooted in the functioning of the brain's hemispheres, particularly in split-brain patients, who have their corpus callosum severed. This disruption in communication between the two hemispheres leads to situations where each hand operates independently, often acting without awareness of the other hand's actions. As a result, when participants were tasked with identifying or selecting objects with one hand, they exhibited no knowledge or awareness of what the other hand was handling. This highlighted the concept of lateralization of brain function and how each side can have distinct processing capabilities without sharing information. The other options do not reflect the findings of Sperry et al. For instance, the idea that both hands worked together effectively contradicts the independence observed in the task. Similarly, while visual memory is important in other contexts, it wasn't the focus of this particular study, hence the option regarding participants choosing objects based on visual memory does not align with the findings. Lastly, the assertion that participants could verbalize their choices conflicts with the nature of the split-brain condition, where individuals may have difficulty articulating what their