Language and Lateralization

Question 1

What is the division of labor in the brain between hemispheres called?

Answer 1

Lateralization

Question 2

What happens if we sever the corpus callosum?

Answer 2

We would have two distinct hemispheres that could not communicate with each other

Question 3

Why might the severing of the corpus callosum be done?

Answer 3

Used to treat epilepsy sometimes, called a corpus callosotomy

Question 4

How is sensory information processed in the brain (directionally)?

Answer 4

Contralateral

Question 5

Words seen in the Right hemisphere or left __________ go to the _______________ for comprehension.

Answer 5

1) Visual field
2) Left hemisphere

Question 6

If we ask a split-brain patient to draw (with their left hand) what they saw in the left visual field, what do you
think would happen?

Answer 6

They can draw it, but they can’t tell you why they drew it. Comprehension would go to the alternate side.

Question 7

Tachistoscope

Answer 7

Used to briefly flash words to left or right visual fields

Question 8

If an object (e.g., pear) is
flashed in the left visual
field, can the split brain
subject identify the
correct object with their
left hand?

Answer 8

Yes, because left-hand is controlled by the right hemisphere

Question 9

If an object (e.g., pear) is
flashed in the left visual
field, can the split brain
subject identify the
correct object with their
right hand?

Answer 9

No, because the right-hand is controlled by the left-hemisphere

Question 10

Complete lack of the corpus callosum

Answer 10

callosal agenesis

Question 11

What hemisphere is associated with language in both right and left handers?

Answer 11

Left

Question 12

What is the right ear advantage?

Answer 12

When competing sounds are presented, the right ear sound will be more clear than the left one because it is being processed in the left-hemisphere which is associated with language.

Question 13

What else influences the right ear advantage?

Answer 13

Handedness and language domination

Question 14

Up to ____ of left-handed people show a reduced or reversed right ear advantage

Answer 14

50 percent

Question 15

Wada Test

Answer 15

A medical test used to assess
hemispheric dominance for language
and memory functions in the brain

Question 16

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Answer 16

Uses an electric current to switch off parts of the brain

Question 17

What is the planum temporale?

Answer 17

This is the superior surface of the temporal lobe and is larger in the left hemisphere, in most brains, especially babies

Question 18

Perception of music

Answer 18

Right hemisphere

Question 19

Perfect pitch

Answer 19

Left hemisphere

Question 20

Agraphia

Answer 20

Impaired writing abilities

Question 21

Alexia

Answer 21

Impaired reading abilities (eg. dyslexia)

Question 22

Micropolygyria

Answer 22

Subtle differences in cortical folding patterns for people with dyslexia

Question 23

Ectopias

Answer 23

These are small clusters of neurons that have migrated to the wrong location during brain development- more common in the language areas.

Question 24

Aphasia

Answer 24

Impaired language abilities

Question 25

In 90-95 percent of cases, aphasia results from damage to the _____________.

Answer 25

Left hemisphere

Question 26

Brocas area

Answer 26

Frontal lobe, very important for language processing

Question 27

Anterior regions of Brocas area are important for

Answer 27

Semantic processing

Question 28

Posterior regions of Brocas area specialize in

Answer 28

Phonological processing (sounds of words)

Question 29

Non-fluent or Brocas Aphasia

Answer 29

Damage to left-inferior frontal region, trouble generating and producing speech, but have intact speech comprehension

Question 30

What is Brocas Aphasia caused by?

Answer 30

Strokes or trauma to the brain

Question 31

What is Borcas Aphasia associated with?

Answer 31

hemiplegia (complete paralysis to one side) or hemiparesis (weakness with one side)

Question 32

Wernickes aphasia, fluent aphasia area affected

Answer 32

Damage to the left junction between the upper temporal lobe and parietal lobe. This results in fluent aphasia or Wenickles aphasia.

Question 33

What is fluent aphasia

Answer 33

Speech can be produced easily, but it does not make sense always -Paraphrasis: Incorrect word insertions -Problem of comprehension

Question 34

Connectionist mode of aphasia

Answer 34

Attributes language deficits to disconnections between regions of the brains language network.

Question 35

The arcuate fasciculus

Answer 35

a tract believed by some to connect Wernicke’s and Broca’s areas, is a key component.

Question 36

Conduction aphasia

Answer 36

An impairment in the ability to correctly repeat words

Question 37

Global Aphasia

Answer 37

Damage to left hemisphere including brocas aphasia and wernickles area, little to no comprehension and production of speech.

Question 38

PET Scans in Diagnosing Aphasia

Answer 38

Show brain areas with reduced activity related to language.

Question 39

What factors affect aphasia recovery?

Answer 39

Cause and severity of brain damage: The type and extent of the injury, as well as, the areas of the brain affected. Age and overall health: Younger individuals and those in good health tend to have better recovery prospects Time since onset: The earlier therapy begins after the injury, the better the chances of improvement.

Question 40

Right hemisphere plays a role in emotional tone of voice ________ and in the perception of __________.

Answer 40

1) Prosody 2) Music

Question 41

Astereognosis

Answer 41

The inability to recognize objects by touching and feeling them.

Question 42

Temporoparietal junction (TPJ)

Answer 42

Brain region associated with reflexive shifts of attention - Shifting attention from one target object to the next - Shifting attention to unexpected or surprising stimuli

Question 43

Ventral frontal cortex

Answer 43

brain region associated with working memory - Recognizing the novelty of a situation by comparing present stimuli with those of the recent past - Novel situations = more attentional resources

Question 44

Hemispatial Neglect

Answer 44

An individual with right hemisphere damage (typically in in the TPJ & VFC) often ignore left side of images

Question 45

Prosopagnosia

Answer 45

Face blindness- Inability to recognize one's own face and the face of others

Question 46

Damage to what area typically results in Prosopagnosia

Answer 46

Fusiform Gyrus

Question 47

Developmental Prosopagnosia

Answer 47

Where a person has prosopagnosia without having brain damage

Question 48

Acquired prosopagnosia

Answer 48

Where a person develops prosopagnosia after brain damage, often following a stroke or head injury

Question 49

Right Hemisphere Summary

Answer 49

-Important for attention, especially attention to left side of world - Object identification - Recognizing meaning from faces - Recognizing self from non-self