localisation of function

Question 1

what is localisation of function

Answer 1

o Localisation of function, or cortical specialisation, is the idea that different parts of the brain perform different tasks and are involved with different parts of the body
o Therefore, if a certain area of the brain is damaged through illness or injury, the function associated with that area will also be affected

Question 2

what is hemispheric lateralisation

Answer 2

• The brain is divided into two symmetrical halves called the left and right hemispheres.
• Some of our physical and psychological functions are controlled by a particular hemisphere- this is called lateralisation.
• Activity on the right-hand side of the body is controlled by the left-hand side of the brain and vice versa e.g. language is linked to the left hemisphere

Question 3

what is the cerebral cortex

Answer 3

• The outer layer of both hemispheres is the cerebral cortex.
• About 3mm thick, the cortex appears grey due to the appearance of cell bodies and dendrites; it is often referred to as ‘grey matter.
• The cortex is divided into four lobes: the frontal lobe, the parietal lobe, the occipital lobe and the temporal lobe

Question 4

outline the motor area

Answer 4

® At the back of the frontal lobe is the motor area
® Controls voluntary movement in the opposite side of the body
® Damage to this area of the brain may result in a loss of control over fine movements

Question 5

outline somatosensory area

Answer 5

® At the front of both parietal lobes is the somatosensory area
® Sensory information from the skin e.g. touch, heat, pressure, is represented

Question 6

outline visual area

Answer 6

® In the occipital lobe at the back of the brain is the visual area
® Responsible for sight
® Damage to the left hemisphere can produce blindness in part of the right visual field of both eyes

Question 7

outline auditory area

Answer 7

® Located in the temporal lobes
® Analyses speech-based information
® Damage may produce partial hearing loss and damage to a specific area (Wernicke’s area) may affect the ability to comprehend language

Question 8

outline broca’s area

Answer 8

• An area of the frontal lobe of the brain in the left hemisphere responsible for speech production.
• Identified by Paul Broca- a surgeon- in the 1880s.
• Damage to Broca’s area causes Broca’s aphasia which is characterised by speech that is slow, laborious and lacking in fluency.
• Does not affect understanding
• Difficulty with prepositions and junctions

Question 9

outline wernicke’s area

Answer 9

• An area of the temporal lobe in the left hemisphere, responsible for language comprehension.
• Wernicke’s aphasia occurs due to damage to this area and results in fluent, but meaningless language - have no problem producing language, but understanding it
• People with Wernicke’s aphasia will often produce nonsense words (neologisms) as part of the content of their speech.