The Lateralizer: A Tool for Students to Explore the Divided Brain

Autor/inn/en	Motz, Benjamin A.; James, Karin H.; Busey, Thomas A.
Titel	The Lateralizer: A Tool for Students to Explore the Divided Brain
Quelle	In: Advances in Physiology Education, 36 (2012) 3, S.220-225 (6 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1043-4046
DOI	10.1152/advan.00060.2012
Schlagwörter	Teaching Methods; Neurology; Brain; Visual Stimuli; Research Methodology; Learning Modules; Brain Hemisphere Functions; Physiology; Computer Software; Educational Technology; Computer Uses in Education; Undergraduate Students; Research Skills; Anatomy; Problem Based Learning; Cognitive Processes + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Teaching method; Lehrmethode; Unterrichtsmethode; Neurologie; Gehirn; Research method; Forschungsmethode; Learning module; Lernmodul; Physiologie; Unterrichtsmedien; Computernutzung; Forschungsleistung; Anatomie; Problem-based learning; Problemorientiertes Lernen; Cognitive process; Kognitiver Prozess
Abstract	Despite a profusion of popular misinformation about the left brain and right brain, there are functional differences between the left and right cerebral hemispheres in humans. Evidence from split-brain patients, individuals with unilateral brain damage, and neuroimaging studies suggest that each hemisphere may be specialized for certain cognitive processes. One way to easily explore these hemispheric asymmetries is with the divided visual field technique, where visual stimuli are presented on either the left or right side of the visual field and task performance is compared between these two conditions; any behavioral differences between the left and right visual fields may be interpreted as evidence for functional asymmetries between the left and right cerebral hemispheres. We developed a simple software package that implements the divided visual field technique, called the Lateralizer, and introduced this experimental approach as a problem-based learning module in a lower-division research methods course. Second-year undergraduate students used the Lateralizer to experimentally challenge and explore theories of the differences between the left and right cerebral hemispheres. Measured learning outcomes after active exploration with the Lateralizer, including new knowledge of brain anatomy and connectivity, were on par with those observed in an upper-division lecture course. Moreover, the project added to the students' research skill sets and seemed to foster an appreciation of the link between brain anatomy and function. (Contains 4 figures and 1 table.) (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	American Physiological Society. 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814-3991. Tel: 301-634-7164; Fax: 301-634-7241; e-mail: webmaster@the-aps.org; Web site: http://advan.physiology.org/
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10