A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

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Prepare effectively for the A Level Psychology OCR Exam with our comprehensive quiz featuring interactive questions, formative feedback, and more. Boost your confidence and knowledge in key psychological concepts and theories to excel on test day.

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What was the aim of the research conducted by Sperry et al (1968)?

To explore cognitive therapies for epilepsy
To investigate the effects of medication on brain function
To understand how the left and right hemispheres function in disconnection
To analyze the structure of the corpus callosum

The correct answer is: To understand how the left and right hemispheres function in disconnection

The research conducted by Sperry et al. in 1968 aimed to understand how the left and right hemispheres of the brain function when they are disconnected from one another, specifically in individuals who had undergone a split-brain operation to alleviate severe epilepsy. This operation involved severing the corpus callosum, the main structure connecting the two hemispheres, which allowed the researchers to explore the lateralization of brain function. By presenting stimuli to one hemisphere at a time, Sperry discovered fascinating insights into how each hemisphere would process information independently. This contributed significantly to our understanding of brain lateralization, indicating that the left hemisphere is generally more involved in language processing, while the right hemisphere is more adept at spatial and visual tasks.