Answer: Zaidel's study on commissurotomy patients aimed to examine the functioning of the two hemispheres of the brain in individuals who have undergone surgical disconnection of the corpus callosum (commissurotomy).
In the study, participants performed tasks that involved the processing of visual stimuli, such as sorting geometric shapes, recognizing faces, and reading words. Results showed that the two hemispheres of the brain were able to perform tasks independently and quickly, but that they were not as efficient when they had to work together. For example, when presented with a visual stimulus in one eye, the opposite hemisphere was often unable to process the information in a timely manner.
Additionally, the study found that each hemisphere had a specialized set of abilities, with the left hemisphere excelling at tasks such as language processing, and the right hemisphere showing greater proficiency in tasks related to spatial awareness and perception.
Overall, Zaidel's study demonstrated that the corpus callosum plays an important role in integrating information between the two hemispheres of the brain and that its absence can have significant effects on cognitive processing.