localisation of function in the brain

Question 1

localisation of function

Answer 1

when a specific area of the brain is responsible for a certain function within the body

Question 2

motor area

Answer 2

a region of the frontal lobe involved in regulating movement

Question 3

somatosensory area

Answer 3

area of the parietal lobe that processes sensory information

Question 4

visual area

Answer 4

a part of the occipital lobe that receives and processes visual information

Question 5

auditory area

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Broca’s area

Answer 6

area of the left frontal lobe responsible for speech production
damage causes Broca’s aphasia which is characterised by slow and influent speech

Question 7

Wernicke’s area

Answer 7

area of the left temporal lobe responsible for language comprehension
damage causes Wernicke’s aphasia which is characterised by producing nonsense words

Question 8

evaluation: case study support

Answer 8

• Phineas Gage had a tamping iron blow through his head, taking most of his left frontal lobe
• he survived but his personality changed from calm and reserved to short-tempered and rude
• shows that certain areas of the brain accord for different functions (frontal lobe regulates mood)

Question 9

evaluation: brain scan evidence for localisation

Answer 9

Petersen et al
Broca’s area was active during a reading task and Wernicke’s area was active during a listening task
provides valid evidence for localisation, increasing the validity

Question 10

evaluation: neurosurgical evidence

Answer 10

• Dougherty reported on 44 OCD who had undergone a cingulotomy
• at post-surgical follow up after 32 weeka, one third had met the criteria for a successful response to the surgery and 14% for a partial response
• shows symptoms and behaviours associated with mental disorders are localised