A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

Which of the following best describes the nature of the tasks used in Sperry et al (1968)?

1. Only visual tasks were utilized

2. A wide variety of tasks were employed

3. Tasks were solely verbal in nature

4. The tasks lacked innovative design

The correct answer is: A wide variety of tasks were employed

The choice that states a wide variety of tasks were employed accurately reflects the nature of the research conducted by Sperry et al. in 1968. Sperry's study involved a range of experimental tasks designed to assess the capabilities of the left and right hemispheres of the brain, especially in individuals who had undergone a corpus callosotomy. The tasks included visual, tactile, and motor activities, demonstrating how each hemisphere processed information differently. This diversity in tasks reveals the comprehensive approach taken by Sperry and his team to explore lateralization of brain function. For instance, participants were asked to identify objects that were hidden from view, which engaged the visual processing capabilities of one hemisphere, while tactile tasks tested the other side. This variety was pivotal in illustrating how the hemispheres specialized in different functions and contributed to our understanding of cerebral lateralization. Such an extensive range of tasks ultimately provided robust insights into the workings of the brain's hemispheric functions.