localisation of brain Flashcards
what is localisation of brain function
Localisation theory suggests that certain areas of the brain are responsible for certain processes,
behaviours and activities.
4 lobes in the brain
frontal lobe,parietal lobe,temporal lobe,occipital lobe
motor cortex
found in the frontal lobe, responsible for voluntary movements
brocas area
responsible for language and speech but not understanding
auditory cortex
responsible for analysing and processing acoustic information
wernicks area
responsible for speech comprehension and located in the temporal lobe
somatosensory cortex
receives information form the skin to produce sensations
visual area
located in the occipital lobe, which is responsible for visual inofrmation
evaluate localisation of brain
+ Supporting evidence for localisation of brain function = Tulving et al demonstrated, using PET scans,
that semantic memories were recalled from the left prefrontal cortex, whilst episodic memories were
recalled from the right prefrontal cortex. This shows that different areas of the brain are responsible
for different functions, as predicted by localisation theory
evaluate localisation of brain
+ Supporting Case Studies = Phineas Gage was injured by a blasting rod which intersected the left
side of his face, tearing through his prefrontal cortex. “The damage involved both left and right 2
prefrontal cortices in a pattern that, as confirmed by Gage’s modern counterparts, causes a defect
in rational decision making and the processing of emotion”