Localisation And Lateralisation Flashcards
Localisation
The idea that certain functions have certain locations within the brain
Lateralisation
Fact that two halves of the brain are functionally different and that each hemisphere has functional specialisations.
Split brain research
Individuals who have undergone a surgical procedure where the corpus callosum, which connects two hemispheres is cut
Plasticity
The brains ability to change and adapt because of experience
Functional recovery
Is the transfer of functions from a damaged area of the brain after trauma to other undamaged areas
Motor area
- Frontal lobe
- responsible for voluntary movements by sending signals to the muscles in the body
- located in both hemispheres, motor area on one side of brain controls the muscles on the opposite side
Somatosensory area
- perietal lobe
- receives incoming sensory information from the skin to produce sensations related to pressure, pain, temperature
- located on both hemispheres, somatosensory receives sensory information from opposite side of the body
Visual area
- occipital lobe
- receives and processes visual information, contains different parts that process different types of information including colour , shape or movement
- located in both hemispheres, information from right hand side visual field processes in the left hemisphere and vice Versa
Auditory area
- Temporal lobe
- is responsible for analysing and processing acoustic information
- located in both hemispheres, information from left ear goes to right hemisphere and vice versa
Broca’s area
- left frontal lobe
- found in left frontal lobe and is thought to be involved in language production
- left hemisphere
Wernickes area
- left temporal lobe
- found in left temporal lobe and if thought to be involved in language comprehension
- left hemisphere
Sperry and gazzaniga
Aim: examine the extent which the two hemispheres are specialised to certain functions
Method: image/word presented to patients left visual field or right visual field
Conducted many different experiments eg. Describe what you see, textile test, drawing task
