Localisation Of Function In The Brain Flashcards
What is localisation of function?
The idea that specific areas of the brain have specific functions
What are the four lobes of the brain?
Frontal, parietal, occipital and temporal
Where is the motor cortex?
Frontal lobe
What is the function of the motor cortex?
Controls voluntary movement in the opposite side of the body.
What happens if you damage the motor cortex?
Can lead to a loss of control over fine motor movements.
Where is the somatosensory cortex?
Parietal lobe
What is the function of the somatosensory cortex?
Detects sensory events from different regions in the body, and produces sensations such as touch and pain from receptors
Where is the visual cortex?
Occipital lobe
What is the function of the visual cortex?
It processes colour, shape and movement
Where is the auditory centre?
Temporal lobe
What is the function of the auditory centre?
Analyses speech based information, so is concerned with hearing
Where is Broca’s area?
Frontal lobe
What does Broca’s area do?
Associated with speech production
What happens if Broca’s area is damaged?
Broca’s aphasia occurs, which leads to speech that lacks fluency
Where is Wernicke’s area?
Left temporal lobe
What does Wernicke’s area do?
Associated with language comprehension
What happens if Wernicke’s area is damaged?
Wernicke’s aphasia occurs, leading to speech that lacks meaning
Which tree undermines the idea that specific parts of the brain perform specific functions?
Lashley, 1950
What was the procedure of Lashley’s (1950) study?
Rats learned to run a maze.
Lashley removed parts of their brains (between 10% and 50%)
Rats were still able to remember the route of the maze
What is the issue with Lashley using rats in his research?
We can’t apply the findings to humans as brain structure is different
Why does the Phineas Gage case study support localisation of function?
His personality/temperament only changed after his frontal lobe was damaged, which suggests that the frontal lobe is responsible for regulating personality and mood.
Why isn’t the Phineas Gage case study reliable?
We can’t replicate it
Why are brain scans good support for localisation of function theory?
They are objective and controlled
Why is plasticity a weakness of localisation of function theory?
The brain reorganises itself after damage and transfers functions to other areas, suggesting that mental activities are not localised in specific areas
