Who conducted groundbreaking surgeries on animals and humans to study hemispheric specialization?

The groundbreaking work on hemispheric specialization was primarily advanced by Michael Gazzaniga and Roger Sperry. They conducted surgeries, such as the split-brain procedure, which involved severing the corpus callosum—the bundle of nerve fibers that connects the two hemispheres of the brain. This surgical intervention was essential for treating patients with severe epilepsy but also provided a unique opportunity to study how each hemisphere functions independently and how they contribute to cognitive processes.

Their research illuminated the distinct roles of the left and right hemispheres; for instance, the left hemisphere is typically associated with language and analytical tasks, while the right is more involved in spatial and creative functions. This work was fundamental in demonstrating the concept of lateralization of brain function and significantly advanced our understanding of brain specialization. It has had lasting implications for both psychology and neuroscience, making Gazzaniga and Sperry influential figures in this area of study.