The Brain: Reading, Dyslexia, Principles of Multisensory Instruction

Question 1

Lesson Purpose:

Answer 1

To provide information about the functioning of the human brain in the processes of language and learning.

Question 2

The right and left halves of the cerebrum are called:

Answer 2

hemispheres

Question 3

What is comprised of layers of nerve cells and is located on the surface of the right and left hemispheres?

Answer 3

The cerebral cortex

Question 4

What is an individual fold of cortex within a lobe called?

Answer 4

A gyrus

Question 5

What is the cleft produced by a gyrus called?

Answer 5

A fissure or a sulcus

Question 6

What does “cortical” mean?

Answer 6

“of the cortex”

Question 7

Posterior

Answer 7

“to the rear” or “behind”

Question 8

Anterior

Answer 8

“at or toward the front”

Question 9

Where do language functions primarily occur in the brain?

Answer 9

In regions of the cortex in the left hemisphere.

Question 10

(Paul) Broca’s area:

Answer 10

an area in the left frontal lobe that is critical for language.

Question 11

(Carl) Wernicke’s area:

Answer 11

Wernicke discovered that damage to an area of the left temporal lobe produced a condition in which the patient could speak fluently but without meaning (spoke gibberish) and did not understand language.

Question 12

angular gyrus:

Answer 12

Integration area important in language functions and located at the
juncture of the parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes.

Question 13

brain stem:

Answer 13

The part of the brain that connects the spinal cord with the forebrain and cerebrum.

Question 14

central fissure (or central sulcus):

Answer 14

Cleft in the brain dividing the frontal and parietal

lobes.

Question 15

cerebrum:

Answer 15

The upper part of the brain overlying the rest of the brain. Includes the cerebral hemispheres and connecting structures.

Question 16

cortex:

Answer 16

The outer layer of gray matter of the cerebrum. It coordinates sensory and motor information.

Question 17

executive control:

Answer 17

The planning function of the frontal lobes. According to Martha Denckla, an expert in neurology and child development, executive function
consists of “proactive elements of interference control, effortful and flexible organization, and strategic planning.” (Lyon, 1994)

Question 18

fissure:

Answer 18

A natural cleft between body parts or in the substance of an organ.

Question 19

gyrus:

Answer 19

A convolution of cortex in the brain.

Question 20

kinesthetic:

Answer 20

Mediated by end organs located in muscles, tendons, and joints and stimulated by bodily movements and tensions.

Question 21

lateral fissure:

Answer 21

A deep cleft in the brain that separates the temporal and parietal lobes.

Question 22

neurological:

Answer 22

Of or relating to the structure and function of the nervous system.

Question 23

planum temporal:

Answer 23

Area of the cortex that is behind the auditory cortex (Heschl’s gyrus) and within the Sylvian (lateral) fissure.

Question 24

postcentral gyrus (sensory strip):

Answer 24

Located behind the central fissure. It is called the
sensory strip because electrical stimulation of specific places in this area causes sensation on the skin’s surface. Conversely, stimulation on the skin’s surface also causes electrical responses in specific places on the post central gyrus.

Question 25

pre central gyrus (motorstrip):

Answer 25

Located in front of the central fissure. It is called the motor strip because electrical stimulation of specific places on this area cause movement in specific muscles of the body.

Question 26

reticular formation:

Answer 26

Nerve cells and fibers in the brain stem that are important in arousal.

Question 27

subvocalize:

Answer 27

To articulate inaudibly, using the speech organs.

Question 28

sulcus:

Answer 28

Shallow groove produced by folds of the cortex.

Question 29

tactile:

Answer 29

Of or relating to the sense of touch.

Question 30

vestibular:

Answer 30

Of or relating to the sense of body position and movement.

Question 31

Wernicke’s area:

Answer 31

Area in the temporal lobe involved in speech comprehension

Question 32

Occipital Lobe (vision association)

Answer 32

Specialized and integrative areas within the visual cortex of this lobe receive, analyze, process, and store visual info. The area designed to receive visual info is predominant at the back of the occipital lobe. This is the primary visual area.

Question 33

Visual Word Form Area (VWFA)

Answer 33

An area in the left-temporal region with a specific role in the visual analysis of letters and words. It is called “The Brain’s Letterbox” by French neuroscientist Stanislas Dehaene.

Question 34

Temporal Lobe (auditory functioning)

Answer 34

This is where auditory information is first received and processed in the primary auditory cortex.

The PAC processes language sounds (phonemes) and transmits them to Wernicke’s area.

Question 35

Lateralization

Answer 35

The process by which functions come to be located mainly on one side of the brain. Brain function in the temporal lobe shows evidence of lateralization.

Question 36

Lateralization in music:

Answer 36

In most people, language sounds are processed in the temporal lobe of the left hemisphere, while non-language sounds (e.g., rhythm and music, vocal tone and pitch) are processed in the temporal lobe of the right hemisphere.

Question 37

Parietal Lobe (movement and sensory experience)

Answer 37

• perception of movement and direction in space (kinesthetic)
• ability to localize areas of touch and to perceive texture (tactile)
• ability to process the feedback which might be derived from one’s own movements, actions, speech and writing (kinesthetic)
• ability to do arithmetic and manipulate numbers

Question 38

Frontal Lobe (attention and concentration

Answer 38

This lobe allows us to formulate plans, behaviors, and actions and is essential for language output.