localisation of function in the brain

Question 1

localisation of function

Answer 1

belief that specific areas in the brain are responsible for different behaviours, cognitive processes and activities
- contradicts earlier holistic theories

Question 2

where is the visual cortex located

Answer 2

occipital lobe
- both hemispheres

Question 3

whats the function of the visual cortex

Answer 3

processing visual information such as colour, shape and movement

Question 4

what happens if the visual cortex is damaged

Answer 4

blindness in the opposite eye to the hemisphere that was damaged

Question 5

where is the auditory cortex located

Answer 5

the temporal lobe in both sides of the brain

Question 6

whats the function of the auditory cortex

Answer 6

processes sound bases information such as volume and pitch

Question 7

what happens if the auditory cortex is damaged

Answer 7

hearing loss - the more extensive the damage the more extensive the hearing loss

Question 8

where is the motor cortex located

Answer 8

the frontal lobe of the brain in both hemispheres
- each hemisphere controls the opposite side of the body

Question 9

whats the function of the motor cortex

Answer 9

voluntary motor movements

Question 10

what happens if the motor cortex is damaged

Answer 10

loss of control over fine motor movements

Question 11

where is the somatosensory cortex located

Answer 11

the parietal lobe of the brain in both hemispheres of the brain

Question 12

whats the function of the somatosensory cortex

Answer 12

processes sensory information such as touch, pressure, pain and heat, each side of the brain processes the opposite side of the body

Question 13

what happens if the somatosensory cortex is damaged

Answer 13

decreased sensitivity eg inability to identify objects by touch

Question 14

where is brocas area located

Answer 14

in the left frontal lobe

Question 15

whats the function of brocas area

Answer 15

speech production

Question 16

what happens if brocas area is damaged

Answer 16

brocas aphasia - speech that is slow and lacking in fluency

Question 17

where is wernickes area located

Answer 17

left temporal lobe

Question 18

what is wernickes area responsible for

Answer 18

language comprehension

Question 19

what happens if wernickes area is damaged

Answer 19

wernickes aphasia where speech is fluent but meaningless

Question 20

+ supporting evidence from brain scans

Answer 20

• a strength of localisation of function is that its supported by research
• peterson et al used brain scans to demonstrate how wernickes area was active during a listening task and brocas area was active during a reading task
• this is a strength as it provides evidence to suggest different areas of the brain are responsible for different behaviours, cognitive processes or activities

Question 21

case study of tan

Answer 21

• a strength of localisation of function theory is that its supported by brocas case study
• broca studied a patient who could only speak one word ‘tan’ but could easily understand speech
• after tans death broca performed an autopsy and found significant damage to the base of the frontal lobe
• 12 more patients with similar patients were investigated and damage was found in a similar area
• broca concluded that this area was used for speech production
• this is a strength as these case studies demonstrate that different functions are located in specific areas of the brain

Question 22

case studies are unrepresentative as theres no certainty that they are typical of the population from which they are drawn

Answer 22

• we cant be certain that the localisation of brain function demonstrated in tan would be apparent in other human beings
• studies therefore dont prove that brain function is localised in the way the theory suggests
• however as broca found 13+ cases demonstrating localisation of function there is reasonable evidence to support localisation of brain function theory

Question 23

contraditory evidence

Answer 23

A limitation of the theory of localisation of function is that there is evidence to suggest that the
theory is not correct.
Lashley (1950) removed areas of the cortex (between 10 – 50%) in rats which were learning a
maze. No area was proven to be more important than any other in terms of the rat’s ability to
learn the maze. The process of learning appeared to require every part of the cortex, rather
than a specific area.
This contradicts the localisation of function in the brain because it suggests that some
functions, such as learning, are too complex to be localised and require the whole of the brain,
which supports the holistic brain theory and contradicts the idea of localisation