Localisation Of Function In The Brain

Question 1

What is meant by localisation of function in the brain and link to the holistic theory (first 2 marks of AO1)

Answer 1

• LOFB refers to specific areas of the brain being specialised for certain functions (1)
• However. acording to the holistic theory, before research into localisation scientists believed all parts of the brain worked together when processing info (1)

Question 2

What are all the brain areas in clockwise and alphabetical order?

Answer 2

Auditory cortex
Brocas area
Motor cortex
Somatosensory cortex
Visual cortex
Wernickes area

Question 3

What is the structure to follow when describing a brain area?

Answer 3

Name
Which hemisphere
Job
Damage

Question 4

Describe auditory cortex in the brain

Answer 4

• both hemispheres
• ass with analysing speech based info e.g. hearing pitch/volume
• damage could produce partial/full hearing loss

Question 5

Describe brocas area in the brain *
(use in essay - 8M)

Answer 5

• left hemisphere
• involved in producing spoken and written language
• damage can cause brocas aphasia, where indv may show absence or lacking fluency in speech, also may produce short meaningful speech requiring a lot of effort

Question 6

Describe motor cortex in the brain *
(use for essay - 8M)

Answer 6

• both hemispheres
• involved in producing voluntary movements, each hemisphere controls the movement in OPP side of body
• damage causes loss of control over small movements in opp side of body e.g. contralateral wiring - picking up a small object/paralysis

Question 7

Describe the somatosensory cortex in the brain *

Answer 7

• both hemispheres
• processes info from senses in skin e.g. touch, pain and temp from all areas in body
• damage can produce failure to perceive/recognise object by touch

Question 8

Describe the visual cortex in the brain

Answer 8

• both hemispheres
• receives and processes info directly from eyes such as colour and shape , right visual field = left hemisphere, LVF = RH
• damage can produce blindness, hallucinations or inability to see colour/motion

Question 9

Describe wernickes area in the brain *

Answer 9

• left hemisphere
• involved in understanding language
• damage can cause wernickes aphasia where indv cannot und spoken lang or indv produces nonsense speech

Question 10

What are the three AO3 PEELS to evaluate localisation of function in the brain?

Answer 10

RTS by Broca
Discussion - low pop val
RTC by patient EB

Question 11

What do you include in an 8 marker and 16 marker with scenario/ w out scenario?

Answer 11

8M
- define LOFB
- holistic
- 2 brain areas
- 2x PEELS

8M with scenario
- define LOFB
- 2 brain areas with AO2
- 1x PEEL

16 M
- define LOFB
- holistic
- 4 brain areas
- 3x PEELS

16 M with scenario
- define LOFB
- holistic
- 4 brain areas with AO2 only for 2 areas
- 2x PEELS

Question 12

What does cortical specialisation mean?

Answer 12

Areas of the brain located in cerebral cortex that have a localised function (normally a label question)