Localisation in the brain/hemispheric lateralisation Flashcards
what does the localisation theory suggest
that certain areas of the brain are responsible for certain processes, behaviours and activities.
what is the brain divided into
two hemispheres - right and left
what is localisation of function
where different parts of the brain perform different functions
what does localised mean
when specific parts of the brain perform a particular functions
what is localised to the left hemisphere
language skills such as speaking, reading and understanding words
what is localised to the right hemisphere
spatial skills such as navigating and understanding instructions
what does lateral mean?
side
what are areas of the brain that are localised
Visual centres Auditory centres Motor cortex Somatosensory cortex Language centres Language area
what is the motor cortex
controls voluntary movements. both hemispheres have a motor cortex with each side controlling muscles on the opposite side of the body (left hemispheres controls muscles on the right side of the body)
what is the somatosensory area
is an area in the parietal lobe which processes information associated with the senses e.g. touch heat, pressure
what are visual centres
is an rea in the occipital lobe which is responsible for processing visual information.
the right hemisphere visual cortex processes visual information by the left eye and vice versa. the visual cortex contains different regions to do with colour shape and movement
what are auditory centres
is an area of the temporal lobe, located on the superior temporal gyrus, which is responsible for processing auditory information and speech
what are language centres ?
wernickes area and Broca’s area
what is the wernickes area
responsible for language comprehension and is located in the temporal lobe
what is wernickes aphasia
when a person struggles to understand a conversation. Wernicke’s lesions in the brain area could not produce but not understand language
what is the broca’s area
main centre of speech production and responsible for speech control and is located in the frontal lobe usually left hemisphere
what is broca’s aphasia
difficulty forming complete sentences, as well as failing to understand the order of words
what is the left hemisphere associated with
with language production comprehension
what is hemispheric lateralisation
the idea that the brain perfumes two different functions
what does lateralisation mean
some functions are dominated by one hemisphere
what is the outer layer of the brain
the cerebral cortex
how is information processed
each visual field has two sides-left side. The right hemisphere controls the left side of the body and vice versa
where do seizers come from
right hemisphere
corpus collosum
a bundle of nerve axons which connect the two hemispheres enabling them to communicate between with each other.
what does it mean when functions are organised contralaterally
the right hemisphere controls the left side of the brain and the left hemisphere controls the right side of the brain.
how do the two hemisphere communicate
by sending nerve impulses to each other via synapses
what will happen if the corpus collusum is cut, what effect will this have on the two hemispheres .
the two will no longer be able to communicate
what is research that investigates spit brain patients
Sperry’s split brain research
what do patients with seizures have taken out
corpus collusum
what is the aim of Sperry’s research
to assess the abilities of separated brain hemispheres
what did sperry conduct
split brain research on epileptic patients. in order to control their seizures, those patients underwent surgical lesioning of the corpus collusum, through a procedure called a cerebral commissurotomy, where information processed by one hemisphere cannot be relayed to the other
how do researchers conduct split brain research
1) present stimulus
2) ask patient to respond to stimulus
what was the presented stimulus in Sperry’s split brain research
picture or object
where was the stimulus presented
either to the left or right hemisphere
what is plasticity
the brains tendency to change and adapt (functially ad physically) as a result of experience and new learning
what happens during infancy in the brain
the brain experiences a rapid growth in the number of synaptic connections in the brain. as we age, rarely use connections are deleted and frequently used connections are strengthened (synaptic pruning)
what is synaptic prunning
Is a process where the brain gets rid of old connections that we no longer use between the connections that are left
what did Maguire find
Found that one the posterior hippocampal volume of London taxi drivers brains was positively correlated with their time as a taxi drivers brain and those of controls. This shows the brain can permanently change in response to frequent exposure to particular task
what did Kuhn find?
found that playing video games for 30+ minutes per day resulted in increased brain matter in the cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum. thus the complex cognitive demands involved in mastering a video game cause a formation of new synpatic connections in the brain sites controlling spatial navigation, planning and decision making
what is axonal sprouting
Where the brain creates new connections and synapses within the brain to accommodate for this new learning
what does pruning mean
where connections are lost due to reduce with age
what is bridging
Where new connections are created due to use and new stimulus
what is functional recovery
A form of plasticity, the brains ability to redistribute or transfer functions: following drama and trauma
