Localisation of the function in the brain

Question 1

Localisation of function

Answer 1

the theory that different areas of the brain are responsible for different behaviours, processes or activities

Question 2

Localisation versus holistic theory

Answer 2

Broca and Wernicke discovered specific that specific areas of the brain are associated with particular physical and psychological functions.

• different parts of the brain perform different tasks and are involved with different parts of the body.
• it follows then, that if a certain area of the brain becomes damaged through illness or injury, the function associated with that area will also be affected.

Question 3

Hemispheres of the brain and the cerebral cortex

Answer 3

lateralisation - some of our physical and psychological functions are controlled or dominated by a particular hemisphere

activity on left hand side controlled by right hemisphere
activity on right hand side controlled by left hemisphere

outer layer of both hemispheres = cerebral cortex

Question 4

Motor area

Answer 4

a region of the frontal lobe involved in regulating movement

• back of frontal lobe
• controls voluntary movement in the opposite side of the body
• damage to this area of the brain may result in a loss of control over fine movement

Question 5

Somatosensory area

Answer 5

an area of the parietal lobe that processes sensory information such as touch

• front of both parietal lobes
• sensory information from the skin

Question 6

Visual area

Answer 6

a part of the occipital lobe that receives and processes visual information
- each eye sends information from the right visual field to the left visual cortex

Question 7

Auditory area

Answer 7

located in the temporal lobe and concerned with the analysis of speech based information

Question 8

Broca’s area

Answer 8

an area of the frontal lobe of the brain in the left hemisphere responsible for speech production