The Brain + Localisation of Function ( Arguments/ Lateralisation) Flashcards
What are the three parts to the brain and summarise its structure– what are the grooves/bumps called on the surface?
Cerebral cortex, cerebellum, brain stem.
Divided into right + left hemispheres
Bumps - gyri
Grooves - sulci
Cortex is latin for tree bark as this is what it was believed to look like.
What is the largest part of the brain and what 4 lobes does this contain for the hemispheres?
Cerebral cortex
Frontal lobe, Parietal lobe, Occipital lobe, Temporal lobe
What are the 5 roles of the frontal lobe?
Consciousness
Thinking
Memory
Behaviour
Movement
What are the 2 roles of the parietal lobe?
language
touch
What is the role of the occipital lobe?
Sight, processes visual images
What are the 4 roles of the Temporal lobe?
Hearing
Learning
Feelings
Long-term memory
What are the three roles of the cerebellum?
Balance
Coordination
Learning
How do both of the brain’s hemispheres communicate?
Via the corpus callosum
What are the three roles of the brain stem?
Breathing
Heart rate
Temperature
Define localisation of function
This means that certain functions are controlled by certain locations of the brain
Where did the idea of ‘Localisation of Function’ originate from, who?, What did they study and what did he find out?
This is tracked back to Marc Dax, A French doctor.
In Early 1800s, he studied lots of patients who lost power of speech due to brain damage.
He found they all had damaged left hemispheres.
This suggested to him that language was located in this area.
What did Lashley (1930) propose in criticism of Localisation?
They proposed ‘Equipotentiality,’ the idea that each part of the brain has an equal potential to learn how to do each task.
What were the 2 things that Lashley (1930) believed in that criticises Localisation?
-Believed basic motor / sensory functions are localised but that higher mental functions are not
-Believed that if a part of the brain wasn’t severely damaged, the individual could recover as other parts of the brain would take over.
What is another issue with localisation of the brain, regarding area’s functions?
There is evidence other parts of brain may take over when an injury occurs, suggesting functions aren’t 100% localised, with an equal potential for other areas to take on different functions
What is the real world example of the issue with localisation of the brain regarding area’s functions? (The Jody Miller case)
Jody Miller, 3years, suffered from Rasmussen’s syndrome causing severe epilepsy, disrupting everyday life. The only treatment was to remove the whole hemisphere causing the epilepsy. Her left hemisphere managed to take over most of the functions of the right, and he lived a nearly normal life as a teenager, going to college and studying dance.
What does the Jody Miller case suggest about localisation of the brain?
Suggests other areas in brain can take over some functions as she would’ve been permanently paralysed on one side and lost a lot of the right-side functions.
What is another issue for localisation of the brain regarding damage to Broca’s area?
Broca’s aphasia should only be caused by damage to Broca’s area, however Marie (1906) found damage in other brain parts could lead to this.
Suggests speech isn’t localised to Broca’s area but is spread over an area.
Define lateralisation
Two halves of the brain having different functions.
What does research indicate the left hemisphere is dominant in, as well as the right?
left - language / speech
Right - excels at visual motor tasks.
What is the difference between localisation of function and lateralisation of function?
Localisation refers to specific regions across the brain, whereas lateralisation refers to functions being delegated between the brain’s two hemispheres (left and right)
How did Broca establish about Broca’s area being both Localised (in one area) and lateralised (on one side)?
He established damage to the left hemisphere resulted in language deficits whereas damage to the same area in the right doesn’t.
What is an example of a function being localised but not lateralised?
Vision is localised to occipital lobe, but is found in both hemispheres.
What are the 3 functions that are only lateralised to the left hemisphere?
Language use
Conscious decision making
Fine detail of pictures
What are the 3 functions that are only lateralised to the right hemisphere?
Recognising emotion
Spatial relationships
Face processing in fusiform gyrus
Define contralateral
In most people, right hemisphere controls the left side of the body, vice versa.
If damage to right hemisphere occurred ,same with the visual centres, what would happen to the left side of the body?
There is a risk that the individual may lose the ability to control the left side of their body and that if they were to damage the right hemisphere visual centres they could lose sight in their left eye.
