Localisation

Question 1

What is localisation of function?

Answer 1

The idea that different parts of the brain are responsible for specific behaviours or that certain functions are localised to certain areas in the brain.

Question 2

What is distributive processing?

Answer 2

The theory that behaviour is the result of interaction between several parts of the brain and not strictly localized to a singular part of the brain.

Question 3

What is equipotentiality?

Answer 3

The theory that the brain has the capacity in the case of injury to transfer functional memory from the damaged portion of the brain to other undamaged portions of the brain.

Question 4

What is relative localisation?

Answer 4

The theory that although one part of the brain may play a key role in a behaviour, several parts of the brain also play a lesser role in that behaviour.

Question 5

What is strict localisation?

Answer 5

The theory that behaviours can be attributed to a single area of the brain.

Question 6

Outline strengths of localisation.

Answer 6

• Brain imaging technology provides evidence to support the theory (Peterson et al. 1988 used brain scans to show activity in Wernicke’s area in a listening task and Broca’s area in a reading task) - this is also seen in Maguire (2000) and H.M. (Corkin, 1992-1993) using MRIscans
• More understanding of the brain has been achieved through the Human Connectome Project(HCP) through mapping the areas of the brain and their connection to human behaviour (achieved through brain imagine, genetic and molecular information from hundreds of individuals)
• Data gathered from case studies support the theory (e.g. H.M and Gage), as damaged areas of the brain cause an inability to carry out a specific behaviour

Question 7

Outline limitations of localisation.

Answer 7

• Studies in localisation can lead to reductionist arguments for behavioural causation (whereby specific behaviours are linked with specific areas of the brain, and then it is assumed that those areas cause the behaviour).However, a clear causative relationship between localisation and function can rarely be inferred
• The theory of equipotentiality suggests that basic functions, such as motor and sensory (moving your arm, speaking, feeling or taste), are localised, however some higher cognitive functions are too complex to be localised and use the whole brain
• Localisation doesn’t acknowledge individual differences, such as the differences in the size of brain regions in men and women. This can cause issues with beta bias, where these studies largely ignore sex differences
• Research often limited to specific behaviours (e.g. spatial memory, habits etc)
• Memory as a whole is distributed throughout the brain
• Some studies (Draginski and Maguire) draw incorrect conclusions about specific role of certain areas of the brain