Please read the important information regarding these games at the bottom of the page.
The Split Brain Experiments game and related reading are based on the 1981 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, which was awarded for discoveries concerning differences in the right and left brain hemispheres.
- What is a "split brain"?
- What happens if you surgically remove the connection called corpus calossum between the two brain hemispheres?
- What is the classic split brain experiment?
- What have we learned about the brain from split brain operated patients?
- To which of the hemispheres are the left and right vision fields connected?
- What are the characteristics of the right and left brain hemispheres?
The brain is made up of two halves, or hemispheres. These hemispheres are connected to each other through a system consisting of millions of nerve fibres. Therefore, each hemisphere is continually informed about what is happening in the other. What happens if the connection is broken? In this game you can follow a classic experiment with a patient whose corpus callosum connection has been surgically removed.
In this game you perform the classic split brain experiment used by Nobel Laureate Roger Sperry when he discovered differences between the right and left hemispheres of the brain. See how the patient reacts and try to figure out how come he is acting the way he does. In order to be able to proceed with your research you have to get more money, and when applying for more grants you have to report on your findings. If you manage to make correct conclusions you'll be awarded with more grants and eventually your research will be published in a scientific journal.
For instructions on how to play the game, click on the HELP button found at the bottom of the game window.
Before you start the game you can read the short document about the split brain experiments.
- Background to the surgical operations on people suffering from severe epilepsy
- What does split brain mean?
- What came out of the split brain experiments?
Read "Background to the Split Brain Experiments"
The Split Brain Experiments was produced by: Nobel Media. Sound by Sound Propulsion, Stockholm.
Acknowledgment:
Peter Wallén, Nobel Institute for Neurophysiology
First published: October 2003
Estimated play time: 10-15 min.
Plug in requirements: Flash 6
Sound: Yes
High score: No
About the educational games
The educational games are based on Nobel Prize awarded achievements and were produced between 2001 and 2012. Most games have not been updated since production (including potential scientific facts changes) and are provided here on an 'as is' basis by popular demand.
Some of the games run in modern browsers without the need of any plugin (either as a new version or using Ruffle), but many of the games still require Adobe Flash Player. Flash is an old technology that has reached end of life. These games will no longer work without a dedicated setup. If you are depending on these games in your profession, please advice your local IT support. We do not have the resources to provide support.
We are working on supporting more games without Flash.