localisation of function in the brain

Question 1

what is the localisation of function?

Answer 1

the idea that different parts of the brain are involved in different tasks and are associated with different behaviours
- If an area of the brain is damaged, the function associated with that area is also affected

Question 2

what is lateralisation?

Answer 2

Some physical and psychological functions are controlled by a particular hemisphere (lateralisation)

Question 3

cerebral cortex

Answer 3

• The outer layer of the brain
• It is 3mm thick
• is what separates us from lower animals as it is highly developed

Question 4

motor area

Answer 4

• Controls voluntary movement on the opposite side of the body
• Back of the frontal lobe
• Damage may result in loss of control over fine motor movement

Question 5

somatosensory cortex

Answer 5

• Processes sensory information from the skin (touch, heat, pressure etc)
• Front of the parietal lobes
• The amount of somatosensory area devoted to a particular body part indicates its sensitivity

Question 6

visual cortex

Answer 6

• Each eye sends information from the right visual field to the left visual cortex, and from the left visual field to the right visual cortex
• In the occipital lobe
• E.g. damage to the left hemisphere can produce blindness in the right visual field of both eyes

Question 7

auditory area

Answer 7

• Analyses speech-based information
• In the temporal lobe
• Damage may produce partial hearing loss