evaluation of localisation of functions in the brain

Question 1

Eval strength neurosurgery

Answer 1

One strength of localisation theory is that damage to areas of the brain has been linked to mental disorders

Neurosurgery is last resort treating mental disorders targeting specific areas of the Brian that may be involved

Brain Dougherty et al 2002 reported on 44 people with OCD who had undergone a cingulotomy.

A post surgical follow up after 32 weeks about 30% had met the criteria for successful response to the surgery and 14% for partial response.

These success of these procedures suggest that behaviour associated with serious mental disorder may be localised

Question 2

[Evaluation] - Brain scan evidence of localisation

Answer 2

There is a wealth of evidence providing support for the idea that many neurological functions are localized, particularly in relation to language and memory.

For instance, Petersen et al. (1988) used brain scans to demonstrate how Wernicke’s area was active during a listening task and Broca’s area was active during a reading task, suggesting that these areas of the brain have different functions.

Similarly, a study of long-term memory by Tulving et al. (1994) revealed that semantic and episodic memories reside in different parts of the prefrontal cortex.

There now exists a number of highly sophisticated and objective methods for measuring activity in the brain which provide sound scientific evidence of localization of brain function.

Question 3

Eval case study one

Answer 3

Unique cases of neurological damage support localisation theory such as the case of Phineas Gage. The case of Gage suggests that personality and temperament reside in the frontal lobe. Damage to this area of the brain reputedly led to a negative change in Gage’s character resulting in a colleague describing him as ‘no longer Gage’.

However, there are problems with case studies. It is difficult to make meaningful generalisations from the findings of a single individual. It is not certain that the deficits and changes that Gage experienced, for instance, would have occurred in someone else. Also, conclusions drawn may depend on the subjective interpretation of the researcher (although, in the case of Gage, it is likely that most researchers would have drawn similar conclusions).

This suggests that some of the evidence supporting localisation may lack validity, oversimplifying brain processes, and undermining the theory. Early studies of brain damage especially were poorly controlled and lack the objectivity of later brain scans.

Question 4

Eval libation recent findings

Answer 4

One limitation is that language may not be localised just to Brocas and wenikes area

A recent review by Anthony dick and Pascale Tremblay 2016 found that 2% of modern researchers think language is completely controlled by the areas
Advances in scanning techniques such as firm neural process can be sudied much clearer.

Seems language is distributed far more hollistically than first thought language streams been found subcortical regions such as thalamus

This suggests that rather than being confined to a couple of key areas language may be organised more holistically in the Brian which contradicts localisation theory