Final answer:
Michael Gazzaniga is the neuroscientist known for studying split-brain patients, shedding light on the unique functions of the brain's separate hemispheres after the corpus callosum is severed to alleviate epilepsy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The neuroscientist who first studied split-brain patients, including alien hand syndrome, is Michael Gazzaniga. He extensively researched the effects of severing the corpus callosum to treat epilepsy. This procedure led to intriguing discoveries about the separate functions of the brain's hemispheres. In his work, Gazzaniga was able to study split-brain patients and observe the unique abilities and limitations that result from this condition.
For example, following the split-brain surgery, if an object is presented to the left visual field of such a patient, the individual may not be able to verbally identify it. This occurs because the visual information processed by the right brain hemisphere cannot cross over to the language center, which is often located in the left hemisphere. Nonetheless, the patient may still be capable of physically selecting the correct object with their left hand, showcasing the distinct and semi-independent functioning of each hemisphere when the corpus callosum is severed.