Localisation of function in the brain

Question 1

What are the divisions of the brain called and where are they located?

Answer 1

Frontal lobe (front)
Paretial lobe (on top, in between frontal and occipital)
Occipital lobe (back)
Temporal lobe (bottom)
look at diagram!!

Question 2

Name and describe the functional areas in the frontal lobe.

Answer 2

Motor area (on top): Controls voluntary movement

Wernicke’s area (corner right)
Language comprehension
Damage leads to Wernicke’s aphasia

Question 3

Name and describe the functional area in the parietal lobe.

Answer 3

Somatosensory area

Processes sensory information such as touch

Question 4

Name and describe the functional area in the occipital lobe.

Answer 4

Visual area

Receives visual information

Question 5

Name and describe the functional areas in the temporal lobe.

Answer 5

Broca’s area (middle right)
Language production
Damage leads to Broca’s aphasia.

Auditory area (middle left)
Analysis of speech based information

Question 6

What are the strengths for the idea of localisation in the brain?

Answer 6

+ Evidence from neurosurgery: research has shown patients who have undergone cingulotomy (neurosurgery of the cingulate gyrus for OCD) at 32 weeks, 30% had a successful response and 14% had a partial response. This suggests some mental illnesses may be localised.

+ Evidence from brain scans: Peterson showed the Broca’s area was active during a reading task whilst the Wernicke’s area was active during a listening task.Tulving showed episodic and semantic memories are localised to different parts of the pre-frontal cortex.

+ Evidence from case studies: individuals with brain damage seems to indicate locations of brain function. Phineas Gage – had railroad accident resulting in an iron rod piercing through his frontal lobe. Had normal functions but drastic change in personality

Question 7

What are the weaknesses for the idea of localisation in the brain?

Answer 7

• Counterpoint: Modern fMRI’s: More recent fMRI’s suggests language is not localised to the Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas and is more holistic. There is evidence of language streams also in the right hemisphere.
• Counterpoint: Holistic not localised: Lashley removed areas of a rat’s cortex who were learning a maze. He found the rats used all parts of the cortex.
  Therefore higher cognitive process such as learning are more holistic.
• Counterpoint: criticism of case studies: Extraneous variables could impact on the brain such as brain trauma.