Localisation Of Function

Question 1

Localisation of function definition

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Motor area

Answer 2

• located in the frontal lobe
• both hemispheres (contralateral)
• responsible for voluntary movements (sending signals to muscles in the body)

Question 3

Somatosensory area

Answer 3

• located in the parietal lobe
• both hemispheres
• receives incoming sensory information from the skin to produce sensations related to pressure, pain, temperature

Question 4

Visual area

Answer 4

• back of the brain in the occipital lobe
• both hemispheres
• receives and processes visual information

Question 5

Auditory area

Answer 5

• located in the temporal lobe
• both hemispheres
• responsible for analysing and processing acoustic information information

Question 6

Broca’s area

Answer 6

• located in the left frontal lobe
• left hemisphere
• responsible for speech production

Question 7

Wernicke’s area

Answer 7

• located in the left temporal lobe
• left hemisphere
• responsible for language processing/ comprehension

Question 8

Support - case studies (w/ counterpoint)

Answer 8

• Phineas Gage study
• supports the idea that different parts of the brain perform different tasks
• if the part of the brain is damaged the function associated with the area will also be affected
• however his case is a unique one of neurological damage
• case studies can’t be generalised

Question 9

Criticism - Equipotentiality theory

Answer 9

• suggests that basic motor and sensory functions are localised, but higher mental functions are not
• claimed that intact areas of the cortex could take over responsibility for specific cognitive functions following brain injury
• cast doubt as other regions can take over

Question 10

Strength - case study’s on patients with damage to Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas + counterpoint

Answer 10

• e.g Broca’s aphasia = impaired ability to produce language, most cases caused by damage to the Broca’s area.
  Wernicke’s aphasia = impairment of language perception.
• demonstrates the importance of the roles played in this brain region (for language comprehension)
• (C) recent MRI scans - language function is distributed more holistically.

Question 11

Criticism - individual differences

Answer 11

• Herasty (1997) found that women have proportionally larger Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas
• could explain the greater ease of language use amongst women.

Question 12

When was Broca’s aphasia and Wernicke’s aphasia introduced?

Answer 12

1880s