localisation of function

Question 1

what is localisation of function?

Answer 1

the theory that different areas of the brain are responsible for specific behaviours, processes or activities

Question 2

what are the 2 halves of the brain called?

Answer 2

hemispheres

Question 3

what word describes the idea that some functions are controlled or dominated by a particular hemisphere?

Answer 3

lateralisation

Question 4

what is lateralisation?

Answer 4

the idea that some functions are controlled or dominated by a particular hemisphere

Question 5

which side of the body does the right hemisphere control?

Answer 5

left

Question 6

which side of the body does the left hemisphere control?

Answer 6

right

Question 7

which hemisphere is language linked to?

Answer 7

left

Question 8

what is the outer layer of the 2 hemispheres?

Answer 8

cerebral cortex

Question 9

what is the cortex of both hemispheres subdivided into?

Answer 9

4 lobes

Question 10

where can you find the motor area in the brain?

Answer 10

back of the frontal lobe in both hemispheres

Question 11

what are the 4 lobes of the brain?

Answer 11

frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, temporal lobe

Question 12

what does the motor area control?

Answer 12

voluntary movement in the opposite side of the body. Damage to this area may cause loss of control over fine motor movements

Question 13

where can you find the somatosensory area?

Answer 13

front of both parietal lobes

Question 14

what does the somatosensory area control?

Answer 14

where sensory info from the skin is represented. If more of the SA is dedicated to a certain to a particular body part, the higher the sensitivity

Question 15

where can you find the visual area?

Answer 15

in occipital lobe at the back of the brain

Question 16

what is the role of the visual area?

Answer 16

receives and processes visual info

Question 17

explain what happens when info enters the eye?

Answer 17

each eye sends info from the right visual field to the left visual cortex and from the left visual field to the right visual cortex. This means that damage to the left hemisphere for example can cause blindness in part of the right visual field of both eyes

Question 18

where can you find the auditory area?

Answer 18

temporal lobe

Question 19

what is the role of the auditory area?

Answer 19

analyse speech-based info. Damage to this area may produce partial hearing loss

Question 20

where is Broca’s area?

Answer 20

left frontal lobe

Question 21

what is broca’s area responsible for?

Answer 21

speech production

Question 22

what happens when broca’s area gets damaged?

Answer 22

brocas aphasia: speech becomes slow and laborious and lacking in fluency

Question 23

where is wernickes area?

Answer 23

left temporal lobe

Question 24

what is wernickes area responsible for?

Answer 24

language and understanding

Question 25

what happens when wernickes area is damaged?

Answer 25

wernickes aphasia: no problem producing language but severe difficulties understanding it, fluent but meaningless and nonsense words

Question 26

what is a strength of the localisation theory? (Links to mental disorders)

Answer 26

damage to areas of the brain has been linked to mental disorders. Neurosurgery is a last resort method for treating some mental disorders, targeting specific areas of the brain. Many surgeries done on disorders such as OCD have proven that the symptoms and behaviours that come as a result of OCD are linked to a specific area of the brain. the success of these procedures suggests that behaviours associated with serious mental disorders may be localised

Question 27

what is a strength of localisation? (brain scans)

Answer 27

there is evidence from brain scans that supports the idea that many everyday brain functions are localised. for example, Wernicke’s area was active during a listening task whereas Broca’s area was active during a reading task. Studies like this confirm localised areas for everyday actions and behaviours. Therefore objective methods for measuring brain activity have provided sound scientific evidence that many brain functions are localised

Question 28

what is a limitation of localisation? (language)

Answer 28

Language may not be localised just to Broca’s and Wernicke’s area. Due to advances in brain imaging techniques eg fMRI, neural processes in the brain can be studied with more clarity than ever before. This has revealed that language function is distributed far more holistically than was first thought. Language streams have been identified across the cortex, even in the RH. This suggests that rather than being confined to key areas, language may be organised more holistically rather than localised