Biopsychology L6-

Question 1

What is meant by localisation of function?

Answer 1

Refers to the principle that functions (language, memory, hearing etc.) have specific locations within the brain.

• visual + auditory centres.
• motor + somatosensory areas.
• language centres.

Question 2

Visual centres.

Answer 2

Visual cortex is in the occipital lobe of both hemispheres of the brain.

• visual processing starts in the retina where light enters and strikes the photoreceptors.
• nerve impulses from the retina are transmitted to brain via optic nerve.
• majority terminate in the thalamus which acts as a relay station, passing info onto visual cortex.

Question 3

Auditory centres.

Answer 3

Auditory cortex lies within the temporal lobe in both hemispheres of the brain.

• auditory pathway begins in the cochlea in inner ear where sound waves are converted fo nerve impulses.
• these travel via the auditory nerve to auditory cortex.
• basic decoding occurs in the brain stem, thalamus carries out further processing before impulse reaches auditory cortex.

Question 4

Motor cortex.

Answer 4

Is responsible for the generation of voluntary motor movements.

• located in frontal lobe of both brain hemispheres.
• different parts of the cortex control different parts of the body. The areas are arranged logically next to one another.
• damage can cause loss of muscle function/paralysis on either or both sides.

Question 5

Somatosensory cortex.

Answer 5

Detects sensory events arising from different regions of the body.

• located in the parietal lobe of both hemispheres.
• using sensory info from the skin, the cortex produces sensations of touch, pressure, pain and temperature which it then localises to specific body parts.