After the picture of a familiar object is flashed in the left visual field of a split-brain patient,the patient can
A) say what it was.
B) reach into a bag containing several test items with the left hand and pull out the object that was presented.
C) reach into a bag containing several test items with the right hand and pull out the object that was presented.
D) both A and B
E) both A and C

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In split-brain patients, the corpus callosum, which connects the two hemispheres of the brain, is severed. When an image is presented to the left visual field, it is processed by the right hemisphere. The right hemisphere controls the left side of the body but does not have direct access to the speech centers, which are located in the left hemisphere. Therefore, the patient cannot verbally identify the object (ruling out A and E) but can use the left hand (controlled by the right hemisphere) to select the object, demonstrating nonverbal recognition (B). The right hand, controlled by the left hemisphere, would not be able to select the object because the information about the object was not transmitted to the left hemisphere (ruling out C).

After the Picture of a Familiar Object Is Flashed in the Left