Localisation of Function & Lateralisation

Question 1

Localisation of Function

Answer 1

Theory that states specific areas of the brain are responsible for different behaviours, processes, or activities

Question 2

Lateralisation

Answer 2

Different hemispheres have different specialised functions

Question 3

Cerebral Cortex

Answer 3

• Outer layer of the brain which protects inner brain
• 3mm thick neuronal tissue
• The development of this separates humans from animals

Question 3

Broca’s Aphasia

Answer 3

• Occurs when Broca’s area is damaged
• Non-Fluent aphasia
• Speech/writing is slow and lacks fluency

Question 3

Motor Cortex

Answer 3

Controls voluntary movements for the opposite side of the body to the hemisphere it is on

Question 3

Somatosensory Cortex

Answer 3

Sensory info is processed, giving feelings of touch, pain, pressure, temperature, etc.

Question 4

Visual Cortex

Answer 4

Allows for further processing of visual information from visual field on opposite side of the body to the hemisphere it is on

Question 4

Auditory Cortex

Answer 4

Analyses auditory information for pitch, location, and recognising speech sounds for the opposite auditory field to the hemisphere it is on

Question 5

Language Areas: Broca’s

Answer 5

• Only found on left hemisphere, located in frontal lobe
• Associated with language production (speech and written)
• Close to motor cortex its areas that control mouth, tongue, vocal cords

Question 5

Language Areas: Wernicke’s

Answer 5

• Only found on left hemisphere, located in temporal lobe
• Associated with language comprehension
• Close to visual and sensory processing areas so info can be passed to WA for language recognition and linking to meaning

Question 6

Wernicke’s Aphasia

Answer 6

• Occurs when Wernicke’s area is damaged
• Fluent aphasia
• Use of nonsense words in speech or writing

Question 6

Split Brain Patients

Answer 6

• Patients who have had the bundle of nerve fibres that form the corpus callosum cut (eg. for epilepsy)
• Aim is to prevent violent electrical activity that comes with epileptic seizures crossing from one hemisphere to another - reducing effect of seizure

Question 7

Sperry and Gazzaniga (1967)

Answer 7

• First to study capabilities of split brain patients
• Sent visual info to one hemisphere at a time to study hemispheric lateralisation
• Would be asked to make a response either with their hands or verbally without being able to see what their hands were doing

Question 8

Sperry & Gazzaniga (1967): Explanation

Answer 8

• Objects in RIGHT visual field will be sent to visual cortex on LEFT occipital lobe - language areas on the left, so patient can verbalise the name of the object
• Objects in LEFT visual field will be sent to visual cortex on RIGHT occipital lobe - language areas on the left, and the connection is severed so info cannot cross hemispheres - patient cannot verbalise name of object