Localisation of function Flashcards
Robert suffered a stroke at the age of 55. After the stroke he was paralysed down his right side, though he could move his left arm and leg easily. Robert could clearly understand what was said to him, but was unable to produce any speech.
Discuss how knowledge of hemispheric lateralisation and language centres in the brain has helped our understanding of cases such as Robert’s.
Refer to Robert’s case in your answer
- different parts of the brain perform different functions
- functions are specific to individual parts of the parts
what two halves is the brain divided into
the left and right hemisphere which are divided by a small gap
what is localised to the left hemisphere
language
what is localised to the right hemisphere
spatial skills
what is hemispheric lateralisation
different sides of the brain perform different functions
Patient tan lost the ability to speak. Based on your knowledge of hemispheric lateralisation, where did Tan have damage
left hemisphere
what is Contralateral organisation
is when the right hemisphere controls the left side of the body, and the left hemisphere controls the right side of the body.
what are both hemispheres of the brain involved in
the 5 senses and controlling our movement
how do the right and left hemisphere communicate
communicate by sending nerve impulses to each other using the corpus callosum.
what is the The corpus callosum
a bundle of axons that connect the hemispheres. It acts as a bridge between the two hemispheres
Explain what is meant by contralateral brain organisation
Contra means ‘opposite’, and lateral means ‘side’, so contralateral means that some functions of the brain controls the opposite side of the body. Contralateral brain organisation means that the right hemisphere controls the left side of the body, and the left hemisphere controls the right side of the body.
what does it mean if some functions are processes by only one side of the brain
they are hemispherically lateralised
what is the cortex
the outer surface of the brain
what does the motor cortex do
controls body movement on the right side of the body
what does the somatosensory cortex do
processes the feeling of touch. the somatosensory cortex in the right hemisphere controls the left side of the body. and the somatosensory cortex in the left hemisphere controls the right side of the body
where is the somatosensory cortex located
behind the motor cortex
how does the auditory cortex process sounds
by receiving nerve impulses or impulses from sensory neurones that talk to sensory receptors in the ears
where is the auditory cortex located
behind and slightly below the somatosensory cortex
what does the auditory cortex do
processes sound. There is an auditory cortex in both hemispheres, but the auditory cortex is not organised contralaterally
where is the visual cortex located
right at the back of the brain
what des the visual cortex do
processes vison. Both hemispheres are involved in processing vison. The visual cortex works by receiving nerve impulses from sensory neurones that talk to sensory receptors in your eyes. Vison is organised contralaterally
where is the brocas area located
below and slightly in front the motor cortex
what is the function of brocas area
involved in producing language, so we can say it is hemispherical lateralised to the left hemisphere
where is the Wernickes area located
behind the auditory cortex