Localisation Of Function In The Brain

Question 1

Localisation Theory

Answer 1

• Broca and Wernicke discovered that specific parts of the brain are associated with particular physical and psychological functions, challenging the holistic theory that all parts of the brain were involved in the processing of thought and action
• Broca and Wernicke said that different parts of the brain perform different tasks and are involved with different body parts
• So if a certain area of the brain becomes damaged through illness/injury, the function associated with that area will be affected

Question 2

The 4 Lobes

Answer 2

• Frontal, Parietal, Occipital, Temporal

Question 3

Motor Area

Answer 3

• At the back of the frontal lobe
• Controls voluntary movements in opposite side of the body

Question 4

Somatosensory Area

Answer 4

• At the front of both parietal lobes
• Is separated from motor area by a valley called the central sulcus – where sensory info from skin is represented
• The amount of area devoted to a body part denotes its sensitivity

Question 5

Visual Area

Answer 5

• Located in occipital lobe
• Eyes send info from right visual field to left visual cortex and vice versa
• Damage to left hemisphere can produce damage to right visual field of both eyes

Question 6

Where is language normally restricted to?

Answer 6

• Left side of the brain

Question 7

Broca’s Area

Answer 7

• A small area in the left frontal lobe responsible for speech
• Damage to it causes Broca’s aphasia (slow speech, laborious, and non-fluent)

Question 8

Wernicke’s Area

Answer 8

• Wernicke’s area in the left temporal lobe was responsible for language comprehension (Wernicke’s aphasia developed if there was damage here)
• He described patients who had no problem producing language but severe difficulties understanding it as fluent but meaningless speech