Localisation of Function in the Brain

Question 1

Localisation vs Holistic Theory?

Answer 1

• 19th century (Broca and Wernicke) discovered specific areas of the brain are associated with particular physical and psychological functions. Before scientists believed in holism

Question 2

Hemispheres of the brain?

Answer 2

• Cerebrum divided into two symmetrical halves (left/right hemispheres). Physical/Psychological functions are controlled by a particular hemisphere (lateralisation)
• Left side of body right side of brain and vice versa e.g language to left hemisphere

Question 3

The Motor area?

Answer 3

• In Both sides of the hemispheres
• Back of the frontal lobe
• Controls voluntary movements on the opposite sides of the body
• Damage results in a loss of control over fine movements

Question 4

The Somatosensory area?

Answer 4

• In both sides of the Hemispheres
• The front of both parietal lobes
• separates from motor area due to valley called ‘central sulcus’
• sensory info about the skin
• our face and hands occupy over half of the somatosensory area ( more area occupied more sensitive)

Question 5

The Visual area/cortex?

Answer 5

• In the Occipital at back of the brain (both hemispheres)
• eye send info from right visual field to left visual cortex and vice versa
• Damage to the left hemisphere can produce blindness in part of the right visual field of both eyes

Question 6

The Auditory area?

Answer 6

• Temporal lobes
• analyses speech based info
• damage = partial hearing loss
• damage to Wernicke’s area may effect ability to comprehend language

Question 7

The Language Centres of the Brain?

Answer 7

• Language is restricted to the left side of the brain. ‘Broca’s area’ responsible for speech production, damage causes Broca’s aphasia (slow laborious speech) - famous patient Tan (only word
  he could say)
• Wernicke studied people who could produce speech but had little to no understanding of it (Wernicke’s aphasia). Caused by damage to an area in the left temporal lobe (Wernicke’s area). Produce nonsense words (neologisms)

Question 8

What is one strength - real world example?

Answer 8

• Neurosurgery can help in extreme cases of mental disorders. Cingulotomy isolates the cingulate gyrus linked with OCD. Dougherty reported on 44 people with OCD who had Cingulotomy - 32 weeks after 30% has a successful response

Question 9

What is another strength - Evidence?

Answer 9

• Peterson (1998) used brain scans to show Wernicke’s area active in a listening task and Broca’s in a reading task

Question 10

What is a Limitation - modern tech?

Answer 10

• fMRI scans, brains can be studied in more depth than ever before - language function is distributed far more holistically than was first thought. ‘language streams’ across the cortex (including right hemisphere)