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localisation of function in the brain - Coggle Diagram
localisation of function in the brain
cerebral cortex and brain
brain is divided into two hemispheres, left and right, and is surrounded by the cerebral cortex which covers the inner parts of the brain
about 3mm thick (cerebral cortex)
the cortex of both hemispheres is subdivided into four lobes which are named after the bones beneath them: frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe and temporal lobe
Phineas Gage - explosion hurled a metre length pole through his left cheek, passing behind his left eye, and exiting his skull from the top of his head taking a proportion of his brain with it - most of his left frontal lobe - he turned from someone who was calm to someone who was quick-tempered and rude
key terms
localisation of function
- theory that different areas of the brain are responsible for different activities, behaviours and processes
motor area
- region of frontal lobe involved in regulating movement
somatosensory area
- an area of the parietal lobe that processes sensory information such as touch
visual area
- part of the occipital lobe that processes visual information
auditory area
- located in the temporal lobe and concerned with the analysis of speech based information
brocas area
- an area of the frontal lobe of the brain in the left hemisphere responsible for speech production
wernickes area
- an area of the temporal lobe in the left hemisphere responsible for language comprehension
evaluation
strength
- there is brain scanning evidence to support that functions are localised. Peterson et al used brain scans to demonstrate Wernickes area was active during a listening task and Brocas area was active during a reading task. this suggests that these parts of the brain have different functions thus supporting the concept of localisation
strength
- there is neurosurgical evidence to support that functions are localised. Dougherty et al reported on 44 OCD patients who had undergone a cingulotomy. a post surgical follow up after 32 weeks showed a third had a successful response to the surgery and 14% had a partial response. success of procedures suggest symptoms and behaviours associated with serious mental disorders are localised
strength
- there is case study evidence to support that functions are localised. Phineas Gage was involved in an accident that sent a metre long pole through his frontal lobe and it left a mark on his personality. this suggests that personality and temperament is localised within the frontal lobe
weakness
- there is evidence to suggest some higher cognitive functions are distributed in a more holistic way. Lashley removed areas of the cortex in rats that were learning a maze. no area was proven to be more important than any other in themes of the rats ability to learn the maze.
however, results from rats cannot be easily generalised to humans
limitation
- functional recovery shows that localisation of function can change. when the brain is damaged through illness or accident the rest of the brain appears to be able to reorganise itself in an attempt to recover the lost functions. for example there is a girl who is living with half a brain, this supports a more holistic view than a localised one