Biopsychology - 4) Localisation of Function in the Brain

Question 1

In what part of the brain is the motor area found?

Answer 1

Frontal lobe

Question 2

Role of the motor area

Answer 2

Involved in regulating and coordinating movements

Question 3

Result of damage to motor area

Answer 3

Inability to control voluntary fine movements

Question 4

In what part of the brain is the auditory area found?

Answer 4

Temporal lobe

Question 5

Role of auditory area

Answer 5

Processing auditory information and speech

Question 6

Result of damage to auditory area

Answer 6

Hearing loss
Damage to Wernicke’s area causes Wernicke’s aphasia

Question 7

In what part of the brain is the visual area found?

Answer 7

Occipital lobe

Question 8

Role of visual area

Answer 8

Processing visual information

Question 9

In what part of the brain is the somatosensory areas found?

Answer 9

Parietal lobe

Question 10

Role of somatosensory area

Answer 10

Processing information associated with the senses

Question 11

Result of damage to somatosensory area

Answer 11

Loss of ability to denote/indicate sensitivity to particular bodily areas

Question 12

In what area of the brain is Wernicke’s area located?

Answer 12

Left side of temporal lobe (in most people)

Question 13

Role of Wernicke’s area

Answer 13

Responsible for speech/language comprehension

Question 14

Result of damage to Wernicke’s area

Answer 14

Wernicke’s aphasia, characterised by use of nonsensical area and no awareness of using incorrect words

Question 15

In what area of the brain is Broca’s area located?

Answer 15

Left hemisphere of frontal lobe (in most people)

Question 16

Role of Broca’s area

Answer 16

Responsible for speech production

Question 17

Result of damage to Broca’s area

Answer 17

Broca’s aphasia, characterised by difficulty forming complete sentences and understanding sentences

Question 18

Who carried out research support for localisation of brain function?

Answer 18

Tulving et al

Question 19

How did Tulving et al provide research support for localisation of brain function?

Answer 19

Used PET scans to find that semantic memories were recalled from the left prefrontal cortex, whilst episodic memories were recalled from the right prefrontal cortex
Shows that different areas of the brain are responsible for different functions

Question 20

Who confirmed the idea that Wernicke’s area is involved in speech comprehension and Broca’s area is involved in speech production?

Answer 20

Peterson and Peterson found that Wernicke’s area activation is required for listening tasks, whereas Broca’s area is required for reading tasks

Question 21

What case study provided support for localisation of brain function?

Answer 21

Phineas Gage

Question 22

How did the Phineas Gage case study provide support for localisation of brain function?

Answer 22

Phineas Gage had a defect in rational decision making and the processing of emotion after a metal rode being blasted through his brain
Confirms that some areas of the brain are responsible for specific functions

Question 23

Evaluation of using case studies as research support

Answer 23

Subjectivity of conclusions drawn
Unusual sample (representativeness)
Lack of control over confounding and extraneous variables

Question 24

How are rats used as an example to go against the localisation of brain function?

Answer 24

After removing 20-50% of the cortex’s belonging to rats, there were no specific brain area that was associated with learning how to traverse through a maze
Suggests intelligence is too complex and advanced to be restricted to certain areas of the brain