Transcript 11-2-16 Parts of Brain 3

Hemispheric Differences
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One common misconception is that people
can be “right brained” or “left brained.”
This is another example of pseudopsychology. In reality we use the both
sides of our brain, and the communication
between the two halves is important.
The Splint Brain Procedure
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In the recent past, patients who had severe cases of
epilepsy would sometimes be treated with a
procedure they called the “split brain.”
In this procedure they would literally cut the brain in
two by cutting the corpus collosum.
The Split Brain
Experiment
The Split Brain Procedure
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For these patients, life changed very little on the
service, with the exception of far fewer seizures. Put
under certain circumstances, however, the side effects
were very clear.
The Split Brain Procedure
What do you see?
Foot Ball
+
Left Side
Right Side
(Interpreted by the Right Hemisphere)
(Interpreted by the Left Hemisphere)
“I don’t know.”
But points to or draws:
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Oh, did I see the
word “football”?
I see the word
“ball”.
What do you see?
Butter Fly
+
Left Side
Right Side
(Interpreted by the Right Hemisphere)
(Interpreted by the Left Hemisphere)
“I don’t know.”
But points to or draws:

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Oh, did I see the
word “butterfly”?
I see the word “fly”.
What do you see?
Fire Fighter
+
Left Side
Right Side
(Interpreted by the Right Hemisphere)
(Interpreted by the Left Hemisphere)
“I don’t know.”
But points to or draws:

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Oh, did I see the
word “firefighter”?
I see the word
“fighter”.
What do you see?
Bob Cat
+
Left Side
Right Side
(Interpreted by the Right Hemisphere)
(Interpreted by the Left Hemisphere)
“I don’t know.”
But points to or draws:

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Oh, did I see the
word “Bobcat”?
I see the word “Cat”.
Plasticity
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Neurons have the ability to change and
make new connections. This ability is
called plasticity.

This means the nervous system, and
especially the brain, has the ability to
adapt or modify itself as the result of
experience.
Brain Reorganization
 Plasticity
brain’s capacity to modify itself
 brain reorganizes / compensates after
damage, injury
 children have the most plasticity
 Example: blind and braille- one finger
used: sense of touch invades visual cortex

An Example of Plasticity
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As a violin player gains expertise, the motor
area linked to the left hand becomes larger.
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Occasionally, however, intensely traumatic
events can alter a brain’s emotional
responsiveness.
 A soldier
who has experienced the atrocities of war.
Often times, these people have hair-trigger
responses.
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Together, this information tells us that the
neural plasticity can produce changes both in
the brain’s function and in its physical
structure as a result of experience.