Lateralisation and Language Flashcards
What is the Corpus Callosum and what are commissures in the brain?
he Corpus Callosum is a large band of neural fibers that connects the left and right cerebral hemispheres, facilitating interhemispheric communication. Commissures are bundles of nerve fibers that connect one side of the brain with the other, supporting communication between the hemispheres.
Explain lateralisation in the visual and motor systems.
Lateralisation refers to the tendency for some neural functions or cognitive processes to be more dominant in one hemisphere than the other. In the visual and motor systems, this can mean that one hemisphere predominantly controls certain visual or motor functions.
What is ‘contralaterality’ in the brain?
Contralaterality refers to the brain’s wiring where the left hemisphere controls the right side of the body and vice versa. This is evident in the motor and sensory systems.
Are taste and smell crossed or uncrossed?
Taste and smell pathways are uncrossed, meaning each side of the brain processes information from the same side of the body.
What are some possible evolutionary benefits of laterality?
Evolutionary benefits of laterality might include more efficient brain function, specialization of hemispheres for different tasks, and improved cognitive abilities.
How is language lateralized in the brain?
Language is typically lateralized to the left hemisphere of the brain, which is responsible for language skills like grammar, vocabulary, and literal meaning.
What is the relationship between stuttering and bilateral control of speech?
Many people with bilateral control of speech (both hemispheres involved in language) may experience stuttering, suggesting that unilateral specialization might facilitate smoother speech production.
Describe the implications of Broca’s and Wernicke’s aphasia.
Broca’s aphasia, associated with damage to Broca’s area, leads to difficulties in speech production. Wernicke’s aphasia, associated with damage to Wernicke’s area, results in impaired language comprehension.
What is the significance of the asymmetry of the planum temporale?
The planum temporale, a brain region involved in language processing, often shows asymmetry, being larger in the left hemisphere. This asymmetry is linked to the lateralization of language.
What is spatial neglect?
Spatial neglect is a neurological condition where a person does not attend to the side of the body opposite to the brain injury. It’s most commonly observed after damage to the right hemisphere, leading to neglect of the left side.
Explain the phenomenon observed in split-brain research.
Split-brain research, often conducted on individuals who have had their corpus callosum severed to treat epilepsy, has shown that when the connection between the two hemispheres is severed, each hemisphere can function independently, leading to unique cognitive phenomena.
Can a split-brain person name an object after feeling it with the right hand? With the left hand? Explain.
n a split-brain person, an object felt with the right hand (controlled by the left hemisphere) can be named because the left hemisphere is responsible for language. However, an object felt with the left hand (controlled by the right hemisphere) cannot be named because the right hemisphere, which does not control speech, cannot communicate the information to the language-dominant left hemisphere.
What are the general differences between the left and right hemispheres?
The left hemisphere is typically involved in routine, analytical, and language-related tasks, while the right hemisphere is more engaged in novel situations, spatial processing, and holistic thinking. However, this distinction is often oversimplified in popular psychology.
What is the Wada procedure and its significance?
he Wada procedure involves temporarily inactivating one hemisphere of the brain (usually by injecting an anesthetic into one of the carotid arteries) to study its functions and language lateralization. This procedure has revealed, for example, that when the right hemisphere is inactive, people experience and remember fewer strong emotions.
Explain the development of the Corpus Callosum.
During early embryonic development, many connections form across the corpus callosum. However, only those axons that connect cells with similar functions survive, ensuring efficient communication between the hemispheres.
