the brain and localisation of function Flashcards
what is localisation of function ?
the idea that certain areas of the brain are responsible for certain functions
what case study supports localisation of function ?
Phineas Gage (1848)
what happend to Phineas gage ?
while working on a rail line a piece of iron went through his skull. Although Gage survived he did experience a change in personality, such as loss of inhibition and anger. This change provided evidence to support the theory of localisation of brain function, as it was believed that the area the iron stake damaged was responsible for personality.
where is the motor cortex ?
located in frontal lobe
what does the motor cortex do ?
responsible for voluntary movements by sending signals to the muscles in the body
where is the somatosensory cortex?
front of parietal lobe
somatosensory cortex function?
receives incoming sensory information from the skin to produce sensations related to pressure, pain, temperature, etc. Different parts of the somatosensory area receive messages from different locations of the body.
where is the visual area?
the occipital area
what does the visual area do ?
receives and processes visual information. Information from the right-hand side visual field is processed in the left hemisphere, and information from the left-hand side visual field is processed in the right hemisphere. The visual area contains different parts that process different types of information including colour, shape or movement.
where is the auditory area?
temporal lobe
what does the auditory area do?
What is Broca’s area and what is its role in localisation of function?
Broca’s area is a region of the brain that is located in the left frontal lobe and is involved in language production.
What is Wernicke’s area and what is its role in localisation of function?
Wernicke’s area is a region of the brain that is located in the left temporal lobe and is involved in language comprehension.
