Localisation of Function in the Brain

Question 1

What is localisation of function

Answer 1

Theory that different areas of the brain are responsible for different behaviours, cognitive processes or activities. Also known as cortical specialisation

Question 2

Frontal lobe

Answer 2

• motor control
• problem solving
• speech production - houses brocas area

Question 3

Temporal lobe

Answer 3

• auditory processing
• language comprehension - houses wernickes area
• memory

Question 4

Parietal lobe

Answer 4

• touch perception
• body orientation and sensory discrimination

Question 5

Occipital lobe

Answer 5

• sight
• visual reception

Question 6

Cerebellum

Answer 6

• balance and coordination

Question 7

Brain stem

Answer 7

• involuntary responses

Question 8

Evaluation of localisation of the brain - CASE STUDY

Answer 8

Research support from case study of brocas area being localised
Tan could only say ‘tan tan’ due to lesion in the frontal lobe - he had langauge comprehension and mathematical ability but not speech production supporting that different parts of the brain have different functions
However case studies are unique and cant be generalised - it is also correlational so it may not be precise damage that has caused the issue in speech production.

Question 9

Evaluation of localisation of the brain - GENDER DIFFERENCES

Answer 9

However gender differences prove that localisation is nurture and not nature
Women have larger Brocas and Wernickes area compared to men
Hence not all individuals brains are localised in the same way. It could be created through environmental interactions. The brain becomes localised due to plasticity eg primary socialisation of girls being encouraged to read more and develop langauge whereas the spatial area is developed for boys. However doesnt disprove localisation as specialism is adaptive to a persons environement but still exists.

Question 10

Evaluation of localisation of the brain - SIMPLISTIC FUNCTIONS

Answer 10

The brain is only localised for simplistic functions
Higher mental functions are not localised eg decision making and problem solving. It is simpler functions like language that is localised.
Criticises localisation theory as it suggests that the brain is not intended to be localised but instead has equipotentiality (all parts used for a function) so it is important to consider how brain areas work together rather than seperately
In summary it is useful but we can not fully understand each area of the brain although fMRi scans can aid advanced knowledge of the brain