Understanding Psychology (10th Ed)

92 Chapter 
3 
Neuroscience and Behavior
It is clear from experiments like this one that the right and left hemispheres of 
the brain specialize in handling different sorts of information. At the same time, it is 
important to realize that both hemispheres are capable of understanding, knowing, 
and being aware of the world, in somewhat different ways. The two hemispheres, 
then, should be regarded as different in terms of the effi ciency with which they 
process certain kinds of information, rather than as two entirely separate brains. The 
hemispheres work interdependently to allow the full range and richness of thought 
of which humans are capable.
When Tammy DeMichael was involved in a horrifi c car accident 
that broke her neck and crushed her spinal cord, experts told 
her that she was doomed to be a quadriplegic for the rest of her 
life, unable to move from the neck down. But they were wrong. 
Not only did she regain the use of her arms, but she was able to 
walk 60 feet with a cane (Hess, Houg, & Tammaro, 2007 Morrow 
& Wolf, 1991). 
BECOMING AN INFORMED 
CONSUMER 
of Psychology
Learning to Control Your Heart
—and Mind—Through Biofeedback
Left cerebral hemisphere
Corpus
callosum
Site where 
corpus 
callosum 
is severed
Right cerebral 
hemisphere
Screen 
prevents test 
subject from 
seeing objects.
(a)
(b)
FIGURE 8 
Hemispheres of the brain. (a) The corpus callosum 
connects the cerebral hemispheres of the brain as shown in this 
cross-section. (b) A split-brain patient is tested by touching objects 
behind a screen. Patients could name objects when they touched it 
with their right hand, but couldn’t if they touched with their left 
hand. If a split-brain patient with her eyes closed was given a pencil 
to hold and called it a pencil, what hand was the pencil in? 
(Source: 
Brooker et al., 2008, p. 943.)
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