Brain Specialization In most people, the left hemisphere is specialized for processing speech and language The right hemisphere appears specialized for spatial, musical, and drawing tasks

Brain Specialization In life-threatening epilepsy, the corpus callosum is severed People who undergo this procedure are known as split-brain patients

Figure 2.15 The Effects of Severing the Corpus Callosum

Gender and the Brain Men are more likely to have language centered in the left hemisphere and spatial abilities in the right Women are less lateralized than men

Plasticity and Change The brain is subject to growth and development, especially in the formative years The ability of the brain to change is referred to as plasticity

Hormones and Glands Hormones are chemicals produced by endocrine glands Hormones send chemical signals that affect the body and behaviour

Figure 2.16 The Endocrine Glands