Biopsychology: Localistaton of function in the brain

Question 1

What is localisation of function

Answer 1

The theory that different areas of the brain are responsible for different behaviours, processes or activities

Question 2

What was the holistic theory of the brain

Answer 2

all parts of the brain were involved in the processing of thought and action

Question 3

What did Paul Broca and Carl Wernicke argue about brain function

Answer 3

That certain brain areas associated with physical/psychological functions

And different parts performed different tasks so if a certain part of the brain becomes damaged it will impact the function associated by that area will also be affected

Question 4

What is the lateralisation of function in the brain

Answer 4

Physical/psychological functions mainly by one hemisphere

• left side controlled by right hemisphere
• right side controlled by left hemisphere

Question 5

What is the cerebral cortex

Answer 5

it is the outer layer of both hemispheres

It is more developed in humans

Question 6

What are the four lobes of each hemisphere

Answer 6

Frontal
Parietal
Occipital
Temporal

Question 7

What is the motor area

Answer 7

• back of frontal lobes
• voluntary movement in opposite side of body
• damage=lose control of fine movement

Question 8

What is the somatosensory area

Answer 8

front of parietal lobes
- where sensory info from skin is represented
- more area devoted=more sensitivity

Question 9

What is the central sulcus

Answer 9

the valley which separates the motor and somatosensory areas

Question 10

What is the visual area

Answer 10

• in occipital lobes at back of brain
• info from right visual field to left visual cortex
• damage to left hemisphere=blindless in right visual field of both eyes

Question 11

What is the auditory area

Answer 11

• in temporal lobes
• analyse speech info
• damage=hearing loss
• damage to specific area=affect ability to comprehend language

Question 12

What did Broca find about the localisation of language

Answer 12

identified small area of left frontal lobe=speech production
- damage=slow, laborious, lack frequency
- Broca’s area

Question 13

What did Wernicke find about Wernicke’s

Answer 13

• patients difficulty understanding language, not producing
• area in left temporal lobe=language comprehension
• damage=produce nonsense words in speech

Question 14

What are the evaluation points of localisation of brain function

Answer 14

• brain scan evidence
• neurosurgical evidence
• case study evidence
• lashley’s research
• plasticity

Question 15

What is brain plasticity

Answer 15

• brain’s ability to change throughout life
• neural connections change throughout life, not just in infancy