Localisation of function

Question 1

what is the theory of localisation?

Answer 1

specific parts of the brain control specific aspects of brain function

Question 2

what is the holistic theory?

Answer 2

suggests that all parts of the brain are involved in processing thought and action

Question 3

what is the cerebral cortex?

Answer 3

• outer layer of brain
• higher cognitive functions take place in areas of cortex

Question 4

what is the limbic system?

Answer 4

• controls emotions, behaviour, memory
• contains hippocampus, hypothalamus, amygdala

Question 5

what is the cerebellum?

Answer 5

responsible for
- coordination
- balance
- movement

Question 6

what is the brainstem?

Answer 6

controls autonomic functions and reflexive responses

Question 7

what does lateralisation mean?

Answer 7

some psychological functions are dominated by a particular hemisphere ie the left is for language

Question 8

what is contralateral control?

Answer 8

• where the left side of the body is controlled by the right hemisphere.
• right side of body is controlled by the left hemisphere.

Question 9

what is the corpus callosum?

Answer 9

a bundle of fibres connecting left and right hempisheres

Question 10

what is the frontal lobe responsible for?

Answer 10

• voluntary movements
• personality
• decision making
• judgement

Question 11

what is the parietal lobe responsible for?

Answer 11

• sensory perception
• hearing
• sight
• touch

Question 12

what is the occipital lobe responsible for?

Answer 12

• visuospatial processing
• recognition
• memory formation

Question 13

what is the temporal lobe responsible for?

Answer 13

• interpreting sounds
• recognising and using language

Question 14

what is the motor area responsible for + where is it?

Answer 14

frontal lobe
- controls voluntary movements in opposite side of body

Question 15

what can happen if there is damage to motor area?

Answer 15

loss of control over movements

Question 16

what is the somatosensory area + where is it?

Answer 16

parietal lobe
- sensory info from skin is represented, face and hands occupy over half of area

Question 17

what can happen if there is damage to the somatosensory area?

Answer 17

sensory issues like numbness or tingling

Question 18

what is the visual area and where is it?

Answer 18

occipital lobe
- each eye sends info from right visual field to left visual field
- info from left visual field to right visual field

Question 19

what can happen if there is damage to the visual area?

Answer 19

vision affected

Question 20

what is the auditory area and where is it?

Answer 20

temporal lobe
- analyses speech based info

Question 21

what can happen if there is damage to the auditory area?

Answer 21

affect ability to comprehend language

Question 22

where are the language areas?

Answer 22

in the left side of the brain

Question 23

what is Broca’s area responsible for and where is it located?

Answer 23

back of frontal lobe
- speech production

Question 24

what happens if there is damage to Broca’s area?

Answer 24

Broca’s aphasia- limited speech production so speech lacks fluency. his patient Tan could only say ‘tan’

Question 25

what is Wernicke’s area responsible for and where is it located?

Answer 25

left temporal lobe
- language comprehension

Question 26

what happens if there is damage to Wernicke’s area?

Answer 26

Wernicke’s aphasia- produce language but lack understanding, speak fluently without meaning

Question 27

strengths of localisation theory

Answer 27

1. support from case studies of Phineas Gage
2. supporting research in OCD linked to coagulate gyrus
3. support from brain scans- Tulving

Question 28

limitations of localisation theory

Answer 28

1. conflicting research from advances in scanning