Localisation of function in the brain

Question 1

Define the term localisation of function.

Answer 1

Scientists such as Broca and Wernicke discovered in the 19th century that the theory that different areas of the brain are responsible for different behaviours, processes or activities.

Question 2

Describe holistic theory prior to localising.

Answer 2

It suggested that the brain worked as a whole to undertake all tasks, activities and behaviours.

Question 3

Define the term lateralisation.

Answer 3

It’s how some of our physical and psychological functions are controlled or dominated by a particular hemisphere.

Question 4

Describe hemisphere.

Answer 4

These are the two ‘halves’ of the brain.
Activity on the left-hand side of the body is controlled by the right hemisphere.
Activity on the right-hand side of the body is controlled by the left hemisphere.

Question 5

Define the term cerebral cortext.

Answer 5

It’s the outer layer of both hemispheres.
3mm thick covering of the brain, and is much more developed in humans than in other animals.
It appears grey due to the location of cell bodies hence the phrase ‘grey matter’.

Question 6

List the areas of the brain.

Answer 6

Frontal lobe
Parietal lobe
Temporal lobe
Occipital lobe

Question 7

Define the term motor area.

Answer 7

At the back of the frontal lobe, this controls voluntary movement in the opposite side of the body.

Question 8

Define the term somatosensory area.

Answer 8

At the front of each parietal lobe, this is where sensory information from the skin (heat, pressure and so on) is processed.

Question 9

Define the term visual area (visual cortex).

Answer 9

In the occipital lobe, this processes visual information. The right eye sends information to the left visual cortex, and vice-versa.

Question 10

Define the term auditory area.

Answer 10

In the temporal lobes, this analyses spoken information.

Question 11

Define the term Broca’s area.

Answer 11

An area of the frontal lobe of the brain in the left hemisphere responsible for speech production.

Question 12

What can damage to the Broca’s area cause?

Answer 12

Broca’s aphrasia characterised by speech that’s slow and lacking fluency. For example, Broca’s patients like ‘Tan’ was the only word he could say.

Question 13

Define the term Wernicke’s area.

Answer 13

An area of the temporal lobe (encircling the auditory cortex) in the left hemisphere (in most people) responsible for language comprehension.

Question 14

What can damage to the Wernicke’s area?

Answer 14

Wernicke’s aphrasia characterised by a production of nonsense words (neologisms) as part of the content of their speech.

Question 15

What are the strengths of localisation of function in the brain?

Answer 15

Support evidence that many neurological functions are localised: Petersen et al. (1988), Tulving et al. (1994).
Neurosurgical evidence - Dougherty et al. (2002)
Case study evidence

Question 16

Explain Petersen et al. (1988) experiment.

Answer 16

He used brain scans to demonstrate how Wernicke’s area was active during a listening task and Broca’s area was active during a reading task suggesting that these areas have different functions.

Question 17

Explain Tulving et al. (1994) experiment.

Answer 17

Did a study on long-term memory that revealed that semantic and episodic memories reside in different parts of the prefrontal cortex.

Question 18

Explain Dougherty et al. (2002).

Answer 18

44 people with OCD had a post-surgical follow up after undergoing cingulotomy and it was found that it had a successful response suggesting that symptoms and behaviour associated with mental disorders are localised.

Question 19

Define the term cingulotomy.

Answer 19

It’s a neurosurgical procedure that involves lesioning the cingulate gyrus.