Localisation of Function in the Brain Flashcards
Define the localisation theory:
Specific areas of the brain are associated with particular physical and psychological functions
What are certain areas of the brain which hold a particular functions know as?
Localisation of brain function
What do you call the division of the brain?
Left and right hemisphere
Define lateralisation:
The dominance of one hemisphere of the brain for particular physical and psychological functions
What are the different areas of the brain?
- Occipatal lobe
- Parietal lobe
- Temporal lobe
- Frontal lobe
Define the Occipatal lobe:
Processes visual information
Define the Temporal lobe:
Involved with hearing and memory
Define the Frontal lobe:
Involved in functions such as speech, thought and learning
Define the Parietal lobe:
Processes sensory information such as touch, temperature and pain
Which side of the brain controls the left hand-side of the body?
Right hemisphere
Which side of the brain controls the right hand-side of the body?
Left hemisphere
Describe the cerebral cortex:
- Outer layer of both hemisphere
- 33mm thick
What is the left hemisphere responsible for?
Language
Define the motor area:
Regulating movement
Define the somatosensory:
Processes sensory information i.e touch
Define the visual area:
Receives and processes visual information
Define the auditory area:
Analysis of speech-based information
Define the Broca’s area:
In left hemisphere responsible for speech production
Define the Wernicke’s area:
In the left hemisphere responsible for language comprehension
Where do you find the motor area?
Frontal lobe
Where do you find the somatosensory area?
Parietal lobe
Where do you find the visual area?
Occipital lobe
Where do you find the auditory area?
Temporal lobe
Where do you find the Broca’s area?
Left hemisphere of frontal lobe
Where do you find the Wernicke’s area?
Left hemisphere of temporal lobe
What does the central core regulate?
Primitive and involuntary behaviours including the hypothalamus
Define homeostasis:
The process by which the body maintains a constant physiological state
What does the limbic system regulate?
Our emotions contains hippocapus
What does the cerebrum regulate?
Higher intellectual processes with outer layer known as cerebral cortex (‘grey matter’)
What is the cerebrum made up of?
Left and right hemisphere connected by the corpus callosum
Peterson (1988):
-Brain scans showing Broca’s and Wernicke’s area active during reading tasks
Tulving et al (1994):
Semantic and episodic memories located at different parts of prefrontal cortex
What are Peterson and Tulving et al studies?
Objective and sophisticated
Neurosurgical evidence:
Extreme treatment by destructing of healthy brain cells to control behaviours (i.e labotomy/leucotomy)
Aim of case study Phineas Cage:
To explain the cause of Gage’s change of personality.
Method of Phineas cage:
-Iron rod through his skull
Results of Phineas cage:
- Survived but personality differed
- Before: well-balanced
- After: rude/agressive
Evaluation of Phineas cage:
Case studies - must be careful of generalising
Karh Lashley (1950):
The basic motor and sensory functions were localised, but that higher mental functions were not.
Does Lashley (1950) support the localisation theory?
Partially
