localisation of function in the brain

Question 1

motor area

Answer 1

location: frontal lobe
function: voluntary movements hemispheres: both

Question 2

somato- sensory area

Answer 2

location: parietal lobe
function: receives incoming sensory information from the skin to produce sensations
hemisphere: both

Question 3

visual area

Answer 3

location: occipital lobe
function: receives and processes visual information
hemisphere: both

Question 4

auditory area

Answer 4

location: temporal lobe
function: analysing and processing acoustic information
hemisphere: both

Question 5

broca’s area

Answer 5

location: left frontal lobe
function: speech production
hemisphere: left

Question 6

wernicke’s area

Answer 6

location: left temporal lobe
function: language processing/comprehension
hemisphere: left

Question 7

AO3: strength- case study of Phineas gage

limitation- only based on one person

Answer 7

P: case study of Phineas gage
E/E: piece of iron went through his left frontal lobe and he survived but his personality changed, went from happy to angry
L: supports the localisation theory (different parts of the brain perform different tasks)
HOWEVER, only based on one person, so research into localisation is low in population validity and can’t be generalised to target population.

Question 8

strength- lots of studies on patients with damage to Broca’s and Wernicke’s area

limitation- recent research has provided contradictory evidence

Answer 8

P: lots of studies on patients with damage to Broca’s and Wernicke’s area that have demonstrated their functions
E/E: brocas aphasia is an impaired ability to produce language, most cases is caused by brain damage in brocas area. Works the same for wernickes area and language perception.
L: demonstrates the important role of this region of the brain in comprehension of language and supports the research into localisation theory
HOWEVER,
recent research has provided contradictory evidence. Conducted an MRI scan on a patient who had brain trauma, there was a lesion in the brocas area but they also found other area that may have contributed to the failure in speech production. Goes against the localisation theory as it suggests there may be other areas of the brain that are responsible for speech production.

Question 9

Limitation- equipotential theory

Answer 9

P: the equipotential theory goes against the idea that functions are localised to certain areas.
E: suggests that the higher mental functions are not localised
E: also claims intact areas of the cortex could take over responsibility for cognitive functions following a brain injury.
L: casts doubt on localisation theory

Question 10

Limitation- doesn’t consider individual differences

Answer 10

P: faults to take into account individual differences
E/E: found women have larger Broca’s area than men. Explains the greater ease of language amongst women
L: low validity when it comes to research into the localisation theory