Susan- In addition to the normal functioning of several known cases, we should 
add that indeed some folks do have  what could appear to be adjustment problems 
following the surgery (usually short term). But it is far more likely that 
their functioning in jobs, etc. would improve than that they'd show any 
difficulties. As Chris has said, these "problems" show up when isolating the 
visual information in rather artificial research settings. Of course, some 
similar things could happen, theoretically, in unusual situations in their 
everyday lives but it seems highly unlikely- certainly not in a situation like 
driving, preparing food, etc. Remembering that these are people showing rather 
advanced and intractable epilepsy before surgery, I don't know of any who 
weren't more functional after surgery even if some problems that were present 
before surgery do remain (i.e., the surgery does not remove the foci in most 
cases). Surely, given the vagaries of surgery, complications, etc. and 
especially given surgery on the brain, there may be cases where that does 
happen but it would not be due to the "split brain" procedure per se.
Tim 
_______________________________
Timothy O. Shearon, PhD
Professor and Chair Department of Psychology
The College of Idaho
Caldwell, ID 83605
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

teaching: intro to neuropsychology; psychopharmacology; general; history and 
systems

"You can't teach an old dogma new tricks." Dorothy Parker



-----Original Message-----
From: Shapiro, Susan J [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Sun 4/13/2008 12:20 PM
To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)
Subject: [tips] Split-Brain question
 
A student question:
Do people who have had split-brain surgery have trouble with tasks such as 
driving a car?
What about their employment? I know they are paid for their participation in 
research.
Do they have higher degrees or complex types of jobs?

Thanks


Susan J. Shapiro

Associate Professor/Psychology

Indiana University East

2325 Chester Blvd.

Richmond, IN 47374

(765) 973-8284

[EMAIL PROTECTED]


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