Localisation AO3

Question 1

Neurosurgery

Answer 1

• 44 people with OCD had cingulotomy
• follow-up at 32 weeks
• 30% met criteria for successful response
• 14% partial response
• procedure suggests behaviours associated with mental disorders can be localised

Question 2

Brain scans

Answer 2

• Petersen: brain scans to demonstrate Wernicke’s area active during reading task
• LTMM review studies found semantic and episodic memories reside in different parts of the prefrontal cortex
• objective methods provided scientific evidence that many everyday functions are localised

Question 3

Lashley - Rats

Answer 3

• removed areas of the cortex (10-50%) from rats
• rats had to learn route through a maze
• no area proven to be more important in terms of learning ability
• suggests cognitive processes e.g. learning are more holistic not localised

Question 4

Case studies

Answer 4

• lots of supporting research come from case studies
• Phineas Gage (lost left frontal lobe became hostile)
• cannot make meaningful generalisations
• may depend on subjective interpretation of the researcher