localisation of function

• What does localisation theory suggest about the brain?

  Certain areas of the brain are responsible for specific processes, behaviours, and activities.
• What is the function of the motor area in the brain?

  • Located in the frontal lobe
  • Regulates and coordinates movements
  • Damage results in inability to control voluntary fine motor movements
• What is the role of the auditory area in the brain?

  • Located in the temporal lobe on the superior temporal gyrus
  • Responsible for processing auditory information and speech
  • Damage can cause hearing loss and Wernicke’s aphasia
• What is the visual area responsible for?

  • Processing visual information, located in the occipital lobe.
• What does the somatosensory area process?

  • Located in the parietal lobe
  • Processes information related to senses like touch, heat, and pressure
  • Damage results in loss of sensitivity to specific bodily areas
• What is Wernicke’s area responsible for?

  Speech comprehension.
• What happens when Wernicke’s area is damaged?

  • Results in Wernicke’s aphasia
  • Characterized by nonsensical words and lack of awareness of errors
  • No issues with pronunciation and intonation
• Where is Broca’s area located?

  In the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere.
• What is the function of Broca’s area?

  • Responsible for speech production
  • Damage results in Broca’s aphasia
  • Characterized by difficulty forming sentences and understanding word order
• What cognitive ability is associated with the left hemisphere of the brain?

  Language production and comprehension.
• What evidence supports the localisation of brain function?

  • Tulving et al. found semantic memories recalled from the left prefrontal cortex
  • Episodic memories recalled from the right prefrontal cortex
  • Petersen et al. showed Wernicke’s area is activated for listening tasks, Broca’s area for reading tasks
• What did the case study of Phineas Gage demonstrate?

  • Damage to the prefrontal cortex affects rational decision making and emotion processing
  • Highlights the role of specific brain areas in functions
  • Subjectivity and lack of control in case studies must be considered
• What is the holistic view of brain function?

  • Suggests multiple brain areas are activated for each function
  • Functions are not restricted to specific areas
  • Example: Rats with 20-50% cortex removal showed no specific area linked to maze learning
• What evidence links certain brain areas to symptoms of OCD?

  • Dougherty et al. studied 44 OCD sufferers who underwent cingulotomy
  • 32% met treatment response criteria after surgery
  • Suggests specific brain areas are responsible for OCD symptoms
• What are the practical applications of understanding localisation of brain function?

  • Improved understanding of brain functions aids in developing advanced treatments
  • Particularly relevant for serious mental disorders like OCD
• aphasia


  the term given to someone who has lost the ability to understand and produce speech
• What is the theory of Localization of Brain Function (LOF)?

  LOF is the theory that specific cognitive processes are localized to particular areas within the brain.
• How does LOF contrast with older views of brain function?

  LOF contrasts with older views by asserting that distinct areas of the brain are responsible for specific tasks.
• What is the primary function of the hippocampus?

  The hippocampus is primarily involved in memory processing and spatial navigation.
• What happens if the hippocampus is damaged?

  Damage to the hippocampus can lead to difficulties in forming new long-term memories.
• What executive functions are associated with the prefrontal cortex?

  The prefrontal cortex is associated with decision-making, impulse control, planning, and social behavior.
• How does the prefrontal cortex influence personality?

  The prefrontal cortex plays a crucial role in personality and emotional regulation.
• What does the motor cortex control?

  The motor cortex controls voluntary movements of specific body parts.
• How is the motor cortex organized?

  The motor cortex is mapped so that different regions correspond to different muscles.
• What is the function of Broca's area?

  Broca's area is essential for speech production and language processing.
• Where is Broca's area typically located?

  Broca's area is typically located in the left hemisphere of the brain.
• What is the role of the auditory area in the temporal lobe?

  The auditory area is responsible for processing sounds, including speech and music.
• What is the function of Wernicke's area?

  Wernicke's area is crucial for understanding spoken and written language.
• Which lobe contains the hippocampus?

  The hippocampus is located in the temporal lobe.
• What does the somatosensory cortex do?

  The somatosensory cortex processes sensory information from the body, including touch, temperature, pain, and pressure.
• How does the somatosensory cortex help with body orientation?

  The somatosensory cortex governs body orientation and helps individuals understand spatial relationships.
• What is the function of the visual area in the occipital lobe?

  The visual area is responsible for processing visual information, including color, light, and motion.
• What cognitive functions are involved in the visual area?

  The visual area is involved in understanding visual stimuli, depth perception, and recognizing faces and objects.
• What is the role of the cerebellum?

  The cerebellum coordinates voluntary movements and maintains posture and balance.
• Why is the cerebellum important for motor activities?

  The cerebellum is important for timing and precision in motor activities.
• What basic life functions does the brain stem control?

  The brain stem controls basic life functions such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.
• What structures are involved in the brain stem?

  The brain stem involves structures such as the medulla oblongata and pons.
• What did Maguire et al. (2000) find in their study of London taxi drivers?

  Maguire et al. found that the posterior hippocampus of taxi drivers was larger than average due to extensive spatial navigation experience.
• How does the Phineas Gage case support LOF?

  The Phineas Gage case links specific personality traits and social behavior to the frontal lobe after Gage's injury.
• What did Petersen et al. (1988) demonstrate using PET scans?

  Petersen et al. demonstrated that different areas of the brain are activated during language-related tasks.