Localisation Flashcards
what is the theory of localisation?
The idea that the brain is made up of CONNECTED areas that carry out SPECIFIC functions.
Rather than the WHOLE brain working together (holism)
Who discovered that particular areas of the brain were associated with particular functions?
Broca and Wernicke
if localisation is correct, what does this mean if certain areas of the brain become damaged?
If particular areas of the brain are DAMAGED, then this will produce particular problems with function.
What is motor cortex responsible for?
Generating VOLUNTARY motor movements. BOTH hemispheres have a motor cortex which is responsible for the OPPOSITE side of the body.
E.g. damage to motor cortex on left of brain will mean trouble moving right side of body.
What does the somatosensory cortex do?
Detects SENSORY info from TOUCH.
Produces sensation of touch, pressure, pain and temp.
DAMAGE here means: Info from senses isn’t being processed by the brain as it normally would.
what does the visual cortex do?
Located at the BACK of the brain.
Optic nerve travel from the eyes at the front to the back. Spreads over BOTH hemispheres, each side responsible for opposite side.
Damage here means difficulty processing visual info.
What do the auditory centres do?
located in BOTH temporal lobes of hemispheres, not far from the EARS.
They recognise SOUNDS and analyse speech-based info.
Damage here: means difficulty processing auditory information.
What did Paul Broca discover?
That the Brocas area of the brain is critical for speech production.
What was Broca’s study?
Studied patients who could UNDERSTAND language but not PRODUCE it.
POST-MORTEM examinations. He found LESIONS in the left frontal hemisphere of these patients.
What does damage to the Brocas area cause?
Causes Brocas aphasia.
This is when language production is SLOW because their speech production is damaged.
Who did Wernicke do his study on?
people who could speak but did NOT understand the language.
They could talk but these did not add up to sentences that made sense.
They had DAMAGE to the posterior portion of the LEFT temporal lobe.
This is the area of the brain that is linked to RECOGNISING sounds as language, and ASSOCIATING that language with meaning.
what does damage to the Wernickes area cause?
Wernickes aphasia. Patients with this condition PRODUCE language easily, but it is MEANINGLESS.
