Evaluation: Localisation of Function

Question 1

State the 1st strength of Localisation of Function

Answer 1

• Research Support by Peterson et al
• Used brain scans to demonstrate:
  > Wernicke’s area active during listening
  > Broca’s area active during a reading task
• Suggests these brain areas - have different functions

Question 2

State the 2nd strength of Localisation of Function

Answer 2

• Case study on Phineas Gage - Railroad worker - Tampering iron through his face, skull & brain
• Explosion left him without most of frontal lobe
• Effected his personality: Calm & Reserved - Quick tempered & rude

Question 3

State the 1st limitation of Localisation of Function

Answer 3

• Lashley’s research
• Higher Cognitive functions = not localised & distributed in holistic way
• Removed 10-50% of cortex from rats
• No area seemed more important than any other in terms of rats ability to learn the maze

Question 4

State the 2nd limitation of Localisation of Function

Answer 4

• Plasticity

- When brain becomes damaged - rest of brain recognises itself to recover lost function