Localisation of function in the brain

Question 1

What does the “localisation of function” mean?

Answer 1

Localisation of functions means specific areas of the brain are associated with specific physical and psychological function

Question 2

How is the brain structured?

Answer 2

Brain is structured into two hemispheres

Question 3

What is the left side of the body controlled by?

Answer 3

The left side of the body is controlled by the right hemisphere and visa versa

Question 4

What is the outer layer of a hemisphere called?

Answer 4

The cerebral cortex

Question 5

What is the function of the frontal lobe? What could damage to this area cause?

Answer 5

The frontal lobe is the motor area and responsible for movements. Damage to this area could cause loss of control over movements

Question 5

The cerebral cortex is split into different lobes. What is the name of these different lobes?

Answer 5

The temporal lobe
The frontal lobe
The parietal lobe
The occipital lobe

Question 6

What is stored in the frontal lobe?

Answer 6

The frontal lobe stores thought processing and personality traits

Question 7

Who was the physician who identified what the left frontal cortex was responsible for? What did he state the left frontal cortex was also responsible for?

Answer 7

The physician Broca identified the left frontal cortex was responsible for speech production

Question 8

What would damage to the left frontal cortex cause? What was the effect of this type of damage?

Answer 8

Damage to the left frontal cortex would cause Broca’s aphasia and this damage would result in the lack of/slow speech production

Question 9

What area is the parietal lobe known as? What is the function of the parietal lobe?

Answer 9

The parietal lobe is known as the somatosensory area that receives sensory information from the skin and stores it

Question 10

What separates the motor area from the somatosensory area?

Answer 10

The motor area is separated from the somatosensory area by the central sulcus

Question 11

What area is the temporal lobe known as? What can damage cause to the temporal lobe?

Answer 11

The temporal lobe are is known as the auditory area and damage to the temporal lobe can cause hearing loss

Question 12

Who was the physician who identified what the left frontal lobe was responsible for? What was the left frontal cortex responsible for according to this physician?

Answer 12

Physician Wernicke identified that the left frontal lobe was responsible for understanding speech

Question 13

What would damage to the left frontal lobe cause and what did this type of damage cause?

Answer 13

Damage to the left frontal lobe would cause Wernicke apashia which meant the content of speech would not be comprehensible

Question 14

What function does the cerebellum have in the brain?

Answer 14

The cerebellum is concerned with balance and coordination

Question 14

What area is the occipital lobe known as?

Answer 14

The visual cortex

Question 15

How is information delivered in the occipital lobe?

Answer 15

Information from the right visual field is sent to the left visual cortex and the information from the left visual field is sent to the right visual cortex

Question 16

What is a strength of the idea of localisation of function? (supportive evidence)

Answer 16

There is a lot of brain scan evidence to support the idea of localisation of function. For example, Peterson et al (1988) used brain scans to demonstrate how Wernicke’s area was active during a listening task and Broca’s area was active during a reading task, suggesting these areas of the brain have different functions. This case study proves the localisation of brain function theory

Question 17

What is a limitation of the idea of localisation of function? (rats in a maze)

Answer 17

Karl Lashey removed areas of the cortex (between 10% and 50%) in rats that were learning a maze. No areas were proven to be more important than others in terms of the time taken and the ability needed to learn the maze and it appeared the process of learning required every part of the cortex. This study shows how the brain works as a whole to move, learn and process information supporting the idea that the brain functions in a holistic manner

Question 18

What is a strength of the idea of localisation of function? (lobotomy)

Answer 18

Localisation of function can be supported by the techniques used by medics to treat people. In the 1950s, Freeman developed a technique called the lobotomy which involved destroying connections in the frontal lobe to control aggressive behaviour. Lobotomy is an example of neurosurgery which is about removing/destroying parts of the brain. Neurosurgery is still used in extreme cases of OCD and depression. This study suggests the brain is localised as it presents medics using the localisation of the brain to treat disorders