biopsychology Flashcards
(54 cards)
What is the theory of localisation of function?
The theory that different areas of the brain are responsible for specific behaviors, processes, or activities.
What is the motor area?
A region of the frontal lobe involved in regulating movement.
What is the somatosensory area?
An area of the parietal lobe that processes sensory information such as touch.
What is the visual area?
A part of the occipital lobe that receives and processes visual information.
What is the auditory area?
Located in the temporal lobe, it is concerned with the analysis of speech-based information.
What is Broca’s area?
An area of the frontal lobe in the left hemisphere responsible for speech production.
What is Wernicke’s area?
An area of the temporal lobe (encircling the auditory cortex) in the left hemisphere responsible for language comprehension.
How is the main part of the brain (cerebrum) divided?
Into two hemispheres: left and right
What is the concept of localisation versus holistic theory?
Localisation suggests that specific areas of the brain are responsible for specific functions, while holistic theory posits that all parts of the brain are involved in processing actions and thoughts.
What evidence supports localisation of function?
Damage to specific brain areas (e.g., Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area) can result in loss of particular abilities, such as speech production or comprehension.
What does the brain’s lateralisation imply?
The left hemisphere controls activity on the right side of the body, while the right hemisphere controls activity on the left.
What are the two hemispheres of the brain responsible for?
Each hemisphere controls activity on the opposite side of the body (contralateral control).
What is the role of the motor area?
Located at the back of the frontal lobe, it controls voluntary movement on the opposite side of the body.
Where is the somatosensory area located?
At the front of both parietal lobes, responsible for processing sensory information like touch, pressure, and temperature.
What is the function of the visual area?
Found in the occipital lobe, it processes visual information, with each eye sending data to the opposite hemisphere.
What is the auditory area’s function?
Located in the temporal lobes, it analyses speech-based information, with damage potentially causing partial hearing loss.
What happens if Broca’s area is damaged?
Patients experience Broca’s aphasia, characterized by slow speech, laborious articulation, and difficulty with certain words.
What happens if Wernicke’s area is damaged?
Patients suffer from Wernicke’s aphasia, which involves producing nonsensical sentences and difficulty understanding language.
What evidence from neurosurgery supports localisation?
Dougherty et al. (2002) studied OCD patients undergoing cingulotomy and found that 30% had successful responses, indicating that behaviors linked to serious mental disorders may be localized.
What evidence from brain scans supports localisation?
Petersen et al. (1988) found that Wernicke’s area was active during a listening task, and Broca’s area was active during reading tasks.
What is a counterpoint to localisation of function?
Lashley’s (1950) work on rats learning a maze showed that no area was proven to be more critical for learning, suggesting a more holistic view of brain function.
What is a limitation of localising language to Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas?
Deeper research has found that only about 2% of researchers believe language is entirely controlled by these areas, suggesting a more holistic distribution of language function.
What are some limitations of case study evidence?
They are difficult to generalize due to the unique nature of individual brain injuries and subjective interpretations.
What case study evidence supports localisation?
Studies of brain damage, such as Phineas Gage, show that specific brain injuries can result in changes in behavior and function.
