Lesson 7 - Brain Lateralisation

Question 1

What is brain lateralisation

Answer 1

The idea that certain functions are primarily governed by one side of brain

Question 2

How has systematic research demonstrated hemispheric lateralisation

Answer 2

Damage to the Broca’s area leads to expressive aphasia

Damage to the Wernicke’s area leads to receptive aphasia

Question 3

How do both hemispheres communicate

Answer 3

Connected by bundle of nerve fibres

-corpus callosum

Question 4

+ Evolutionary perspective of hemispheric lateralisation

Answer 4

• Makes sense since it increases neural processing capacity
• Having one hemisphere engaged leaves the other to engage in other functions

Rogers et al(2004) found hemispheric lateralisation in chickens associated with ability to perform two tasks simultaneously
-finding food + being vigilant

Question 5

(-) Lateralisation changes with age

Answer 5

• Szaflarski et al(2006) found languages became more lateralised to the left hemisphere up to 25 years old but decreased beyond that
• Suggests assumptions should be cautiously made and lateralisation is only relevant to a certain age

Question 6

+ Global aphasia patients

Answer 6

• Patients with extensive damage to left hemisphere experience loss of speech production and speech comprehension
• Suggests language lateralised to left hemisphere