Localisation Of Function Flashcards
What are the four lobes and their general functions?
. Parietal lobe
. Frontal lobe
. Temporal lobe
. Occipital lobe
How do the cerebral hemispheres control our bodies?
LH controls RHS of body
RH controls LHS of body
Which two cortex’s are logically arranged for their functions?
. Motor cortex
. Somatosensory cortex
Which two brain areas studied use the thalamus as a relay station for the majority of nerve impulses to travel for its functions?
. Visual and auditory cortexes
Which two areas are involved in language?
Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area
Where is the motor cortex located and what is its role?
Location: At the back of the frontal lobe, near a bumpy region called the pre central gyrus
Role: voluntary motor movements
Where is the somatosensory cortex located and what is its role?
Location: in parietal lobe next to the frontal lobe, along a region called the post central gyrus
Role: generally deals with incoming sensory information
- the post central gyrus specifically controls the area of the somatosensory cortex that deals with incoming sensory information related to touch
Which localised areas of the brain are only located generally in the LH?
Broca’s and Wernicke’s area
Where did the origins of localisation of function look like?
Fran Gall’s pseudoscientific study of phrenology = looking at the structure of someone’s skull to determine their character
This was quickly discredited
Who is the main case study for localisation of function?
Phineas Gage
- first patient from whom we learned something about the relation between personality and the function of the front parts of the brain
- as a result of his explosion, he became more aggressive and not very friendly
What is the surface layer of the brain called and why is it needed?
Cerebral cortex, allows us to have higher-ordered thinking as animals don’t have as strong of a cerebral cortex as us
What is localisation of function?
The idea that different regions of the brain drive specific functions that lead to behaviour
What does trauma to the motor cortex often result in?
Loss of movement in opposite side of body or unable to do finer movements such as writing but can still move arm
Why does trauma to the motor cortex not always result in a full loss of motor movement?
Different parts of the motor cortex are designated to different parts of the body in a logical way, meaning the region that controls the foot is next to the region that controls the leg, so any trauma to a section of the motor cortex will damage a small area of the body rather than destroying a large chunk of movement
How is sensitivity related to the localisation of function of the somatosensory cortex?
. Some areas of the body have more sensory receptors e.g hands, which makes them more sensitive
. Amount of somatosensory area devoted to a part of the body is proportional to sensitivity of that part of the body e.g area of somatosensory cortex devoted to hands is quite large as it is sensitive
Where is the visual cortex located and what is its role?
Where: occipital lobe
Role: allows us to process different types of visual information e.g colour and shape
