Localisation of function

Question 1

Define localisation of function.

Answer 1

The theory that specific areas of the brain are associated with particular physical and psychological functions.

Question 2

Define lateralisation.

Answer 2

Theory that some physical and psychological functions are controlled by a particular hemisphere. (Left side of body = right hemisphere, right side of body = left hemisphere).

Question 3

What are the 4 lobes that each hemisphere is divided into? Are they at the front, back, top, or bottom of the brain?

Answer 3

Frontal - front
Parietal - top
Occipital - back
Temporal - bottom

Question 4

Where is the visual cortex located?

Answer 4

Back of the occipital lobe.

Question 5

Where is the motor cortex?

Answer 5

Top of the frontal lobe.

Question 6

Where is the somatosensory cortex?

Answer 6

Next to the motor cortex, at the top of the parietal lobe.

Question 7

Where is the auditory cortex?

Answer 7

Approx. centre of brain at top of temporal lobe.

Question 8

Where is Broca’s area?

Answer 8

Approx. centre of brain, at bottom right of frontal lobe.

Question 9

Where is Wernicke’s area?

Answer 9

To the right of auditory cortex at the top of the temporal lobe.

Question 10

Which areas/cortexes are only found in one hemisphere of the brain - which hemisphere?

Answer 10

Language centres - Wernicke’s area and Broca’s area are only found in the left hemisphere for most people.

Question 11

Describe the role of the motor cortex in the body.

Answer 11

Controls voluntary motor movements in the opposite side of the body

Question 12

Describe the role of the somatosensory cortex.

Answer 12

Processes sensory information from different areas of the body (touch, heat etc). Most sensitive areas (face) occupy more room.

Question 13

Explain how lateralisation effects the way in which visual information is processed by the visual cortex.

Answer 13

Each eye sends information from the right visual field to the left visual cortex and vice verse. Means that damage top left hemisphere can produce blindness in right visual field of both eyes.

Question 14

Explain the function of the auditory cortex.

Answer 14

Analyses sound- and speech-based information. (Damage may produce partial hearing loss).

Question 15

What is Broca’s area responsible for?

Answer 15

Speech production.

Question 16

What does damage to Broca’s area cause?

Answer 16

Broca’s aphasia: slow and laborious speech (difficulty finding words and naming objects).

Question 17

What is Wernicke’s area responsible for?

Answer 17

Language comprehension.

Question 18

What does damage to Wernicke’s area cause?

Answer 18

Wernicke’s aphasia: can produce language but cannot understand it. This means patients may produce nonsense words in speech.

Question 19

(AO3) Describe research evidence for localisation theory (include researcher’s name).

Answer 19

Peterson et. al. brain scan evidence for language centres. fMRI / PET scans. Monitored activity of Wernicke’s area and Broca’s area during listening task and reading task. Activity in Wernicke’s when listening, activity in Broca’s when reading. Objectively suggests different functions in different areas.

Question 20

(AO3) Describe case study evidence for localisation theory.

Answer 20

Phineas Gage brain damage in accident. Pole through part of frontal lobe. Survived, but personality effected. Calm & reserved to quick-tempered & rude. Suggests frontal lobe responsible for mood regulation.

Question 21

(AO3) Explain why functional recovery weakens the credibility of localisation theory.

Answer 21

One part of brain becomes damaged (function lost). Other areas of brain coordinate to achieve lost function. E.g. stroke victims recovering cognitive abilities despite damage to specific areas. Suggests functions are not as localised as we thought.

Question 22

(AO3) Explain why there may actually be a culture bias in localisation of function.

Answer 22

Majority of research is Western - Western researchers, participants, equipment institutions (both brain scans and post-mortem). Usually studying biology is universal. But it has been suggested that language is processed differently in different cultures. Brain may be a feature of physiology that varies between cultures. Therefore less applicable + culture bias + more research needed.