Localisation of Functions in the Brain - Evaluation

Question 1

What are the three evaluation points for localisation?

Answer 1

Brain scan evidence.
Case study evidence.
‘Higher cognitive functions are not localised’

Question 2

Describe the brain scan evidence.

Answer 2

Peterson used brain scans to find evidence of language areas.
Wernicke’s area - listening task.
Broca’s area = reading task.

Question 3

What is the issue and debate that can be used to evaluate the brain scan evidence?

Answer 3

Biological determinism.

Question 4

Describe the case study evidence.

Answer 4

Gage = working when a pole shot through his brain
Change in personality from kind and reserved to rude and grossly blasphemous, friends = “No longer Gage”
Damage to frontal lobe = change in personality.

Question 5

What is the issue and debate that can be used to evaluate the case study evidence?

Answer 5

Idiographic.

Based on a small scale/case study so cannot be generalised, and it was a very rare case.

Question 6

Describe the claim that ‘higher cognitive functions are not localised.

Answer 6

Lashley claimed that intact areas of the cortex could take over responsibilities of other areas when they became damaged.
The main claim was that although localisation is true, its not that black and white,
the extent of the damage is more important that the location of it.
Equipotentiality.

Question 7

What is the issue and debate that can be used to evaluate the claim that ‘higher cognitive functions are not localised’?

Answer 7

The idea of localisation is REDUCTIONIST = too simplified.

There needs to be multiple layers of explanation.