Split-brain reveals separate but equal self-recognition in the two cerebral hemispheres.
To assess the ability of the disconnected cerebral hemispheres to recognize images of the self, a split-brain patient (an individual who underwent complete cerebral commissurotomy to relieve intractable epilepsy) was tested using morphed self-face images presented to one visual hemifield (projecting to one hemisphere) at a time while making "self/other" judgments. The performance of the right and left hemispheres of this patient as assessed by a signal detection method was not significantly different, though a measure of bias did reveal hemispheric differences. The right and left hemispheres of this patient independently and equally possessed the ability to self-recognize, but only the right hemisphere could successfully recognize familiar others. This supports a modular concept of self-recognition and other-recognition, separately present in each cerebral hemisphere.
Uddin
Lucina Q
LQ
Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. lucina@ucla.edu
Rayman
Jan
J
Zaidel
Eran
E
D000368:Aged; D004532:Ego; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D017603:Signal Detection, Psychological; D050812:Split-Brain Procedure