3.6. Localisation Of Function

Question 1

What is localisation?

Answer 1

Specific functions (e.g. language, memory and hearing) that have specific locations in the brain

Question 2

How is Phineas Gage part of localisation of function?

Answer 2

• His case had a large influence on early neurology
• Specific changes in his behaviour led to theories about the localisation of brain function
• Tamping iron went through his left frontal lobe

Question 3

Where is the motor area?

Answer 3

Frontal lobe

Question 4

What is the function of the motor area?

Answer 4

Responsible for voluntary movement by sending signals to the muscles in the body

Question 5

Which hemisphere is the motor area located?

Answer 5

Both
The motor area on one side of the brain controls the muscles on the opposite side of the body

Question 6

Where is the somatosensory area located?

Answer 6

Parietal lobe

Question 7

What is the function of the somatosensory area?

Answer 7

Receives incoming information from the skin to produce sensations related to pressure, pain, temp

Question 8

Which hemisphere is the somatosensory area?

Answer 8

Both
The somatosensory area from one side of the brain receives sensory info from the opposite side of the body

Question 9

Where is the visual area located?

Answer 9

Occipital lobe

Question 10

What is the function of the visual area?

Answer 10

Receives and processes visual information
It contains different parts that process different types of info relating to colour, shape or movement

Question 11

Which hemisphere is the visual area located in?

Answer 11

Both
Info from the right visual field is processed by the left hemisphere, information from the left visual field is processed by the right hemisphere

Question 12

Where is the auditory area located?

Answer 12

Temporal lobe

Question 13

What is the function of the auditory area?

Answer 13

Responsible for analysing and processing acoustic info

Question 14

Which hemisphere is the auditory area located?

Answer 14

Both
Info from the left ear primarily goes to the right hemisphere, info from the right ear primarily goes to the left hemisphere

Question 15

Where is Broca’s area located?

Answer 15

Left Frontal lobe

Question 16

What is the function of Broca’s area?

Answer 16

Thought to be involved in language production

Question 17

Which hemisphere is Broca’s area located?

Answer 17

Left hemisphere

Question 18

Where is Wernicke’s area located?

Answer 18

Left Temporal lobe

Question 19

What is the function of Wernicke’s area?

Answer 19

Thought to be involved in language comprehension

Question 20

Which hemisphere is Wernicke’s area located?

Answer 20

Left hemisphere

Question 21

Strength : Phineas Gage

Answer 21

Cases such as Phineas Gage support the idea that functions are localised -> due to his personality changing after his accident

Question 22

Strength: scanning techniques

Answer 22

Brain scanning does show the types of LTM are localised, episodic in the hippocampus and temporal lobe, semantic in the temporal lobe and procedural in the motor cortex

Question 23

Strengths: RWA

Answer 23

Damage to Broca’s and Wernicke’s Areas are a result of different types of aphasia
+ Damage to Broca’s = Expressive Aphasia -> cannot speak
+ Damage to Wernicke’s = Receptive Aphasia -> cannot understand language

Question 24

Weakness: Equipotentiality Theory

Answer 24

• Suggests only motor and sensory functions are localised
• Higher order mental processing is not localised

Question 25

Weakness: Lashley

Answer 25

• Lashley removed 10-50% of rats brains cortexes and they had to complete a learning maze
• It was found no area was found to be more important
• Suggests functions aren’t localised
• Animal research -> humans have higher order thinking

Question 26

Weakness: Localisation is oversimplified

Answer 26

• Lateralisation states functions are lateralised where plasticity suggests our brain has the ability to modify its own structure due to experience