The Brain

Question 1

What is contralateralisation?

Answer 1

the property of the brain which means that each hemisphere controls the opposite side of the body for motor and sensory functions

Question 2

What is specialisation?

Answer 2

each brain hemisphere is responsible for particular activities

Question 3

What are the main functions of the left hemisphere?

Answer 3

analysis reasoning
perception of linguistic sounds
interpreting tone, literal meaning, grammar

Question 4

What are the main functions of the right hemisphere?

Answer 4

holistic reasoning
perception of non-linguistic sounds
interpretation of intonation, emotion, metaphor, humour
spatial reasoning

Question 5

What do dichotic listening tests reveal about contralateralisation?

Answer 5

right ear advantage for linguistic sounds (especially for right handers)
left ear advantage for non-linguistic sounds

Question 6

What is the prevalence of right and left handedness?

Answer 6

90% of population is right-handed
- 90% of these are left-lateralised for language
10% of population is left-handed
- 60% of these are left-lateralised for language

Question 7

Why are left handers typically less specifically lateralised?

Answer 7

they are encouraged to be ambidextrous when young

Question 8

Is handed linked to language?

Answer 8

no other species show the handedness trend

chimps show equal left/right hand dominance

Question 9

Which brain areas are involved in language processing?

Answer 9

visual cortex
angular gyrus
wernicke's area
broca's area
motor cortex
arcuate fasciculus
exner's writing area

Question 10

What is the role of the visual cortex in language processing?

Answer 10

receiving written language

Question 11

What is the role of the angular gyrus in language processing?

Answer 11

transforming visual representation into auditory code

Question 12

What is the role of Wernicke’s area language processing?

Answer 12

comprehension of auditory code

Question 13

What is the role of Broca’s area in language processing?

Answer 13

production of speech sounds (close to motor area)

Question 14

What is the role of the arcuate fasciculus in language processing?

Answer 14

nerve fibres connect broca’s and wernicke’s areas allowing feedback

Question 15

What are the pro’s of a large human brain?

Answer 15

increased motor control
improved hand-eye coordination
greater cognitive capacity
improved reasoning/planning skills

Question 16

What are the con’s of a large human brain?

Answer 16

requires a huge amount of calories
dangerous childbirth
longer infancy

Question 17

What physical adaptions have occurred for language?

Answer 17

low larynx/hyoid bone (by-product of bi-pedalism)
- more language sounds
- better breathing control
- increased risk of choking
improved tongue control
- hypoglossal canal; larger nerve to tongue connection for precise speech

Question 18

What methods can be used to image the brain?

Answer 18

CAT
MRI
PET
fMRI
EEG