6. BIOPSYCHOLOGY (LOCALISATION OF FUNCTION IN THE BRAIN) Flashcards
What is the theory of localisation of function in the brain?
The theory suggests that specific areas of the brain are responsible for different behaviours, cognitive processes, or activities, in contrast to the holistic theory where all parts of the brain were thought to be involved in all functions.
What does the visual cortex do?
The visual cortex, located in the occipital lobe, processes visual information such as colour, shape, and movement. Each hemisphere processes visual input from the opposite side of the visual field.
What happens if the visual cortex is damaged?
Damage to the visual cortex can result in partial blindness, such as blindness in part of the visual field in both eyes, depending on which hemisphere is affected.
What does the auditory cortex do?
The auditory cortex, located in the temporal lobes, is responsible for processing auditory information, including pitch and volume. Damage may lead to hearing loss, and damage to Wernicke’s area can impair language comprehension.
What is the motor cortex responsible for?
The motor cortex, located in the frontal lobe along the precentral gyrus, controls voluntary motor movements. Each hemisphere controls the opposite side of the body, and damage can lead to loss of fine motor control.
What does the somatosensory cortex do?
The somatosensory cortex, located in the parietal lobe along the postcentral gyrus, processes sensory information from the body, such as touch, pressure, pain, and temperature. Each hemisphere processes sensory input from the opposite side of the body
How does the size of the somatosensory area relate to body parts?
The amount of somatosensory area devoted to a particular body part reflects its sensitivity, with areas like the face and hands having a larger somatosensory representation.
What is Broca’s area responsible for?
Broca’s area, located in the left frontal lobe, is critical for speech production. Damage to this area leads to Broca’s aphasia, where speech becomes slow, laborious, and lacking in fluency.
What is Wernicke’s area responsible for?
Wernicke’s area, located in the left temporal lobe, is involved in language comprehension. Damage to this area results in Wernicke’s aphasia, where individuals can speak fluently but produce meaningless speech.
How did Broca’s research support localisation of function?
Broca studied patients like ‘Tan,’ who could understand speech but had difficulty speaking due to damage in the left frontal lobe. This led him to conclude that Broca’s area is responsible for speech production.
What was the significance of Phineas Gage’s case for localisation of function?
Phineas Gage’s case showed that damage to the frontal lobe, particularly the left side, led to significant personality changes, suggesting that the frontal lobe regulates mood and personality.
What are some methodological issues with case studies in supporting localisation theory?
Case studies are often unrepresentative, as they focus on individuals with unique brain damage, which may not reflect typical brain function. Thus, case studies cannot definitively prove localisation of function.
How does Peterson et al.’s brain scan research support localisation of function?
Peterson et al. (1998) used brain scans to show that Wernicke’s area was active during a listening task and Broca’s area was active during a reading task, providing objective evidence of localisation.
What is the contradictory evidence to localisation theory from Lashley’s research?
Lashley (1950) found that when he removed parts of the cortex in rats, no single area was more important for learning a maze, suggesting that learning may not be localized and might require the entire cortex, supporting the holistic view.
Why are Lashley’s findings limited in supporting the localisation theory?
Lashley’s research was conducted on rats, and the human brain is much more complex. Thus, findings in animals may not directly apply to humans, weakening the evidence against localisation theory.
Label this diagram:
