localisation of function

• what is localisation of functions?

  • Localisation of function is: the idea that specific areas of the brain are associated with specific cognitive functions 
• • describe localisation of function
  • Some functions are more localised than others eg somatosensory and motor functions are highly localised to particular areas of cortex
  •  • Other functions seem more widely distributed eg the language system (though some components may be localised eg speech comprehension)
• • what is the motor cortex?
  • Motor cortex- responsible for the generation of voluntary motor movements 
  • Both hemispheres have a motor cortex-left side brain controls right side body
• where is the motor cortex located?

  • frontal lobe along precentral gyrus region 
• what is the Somatosensory cortex?

  • processes input from sensory receptors
  • Using sensory information from the skin, this cortex produces sensations of pressure, pain,touch,temperature which it then localises to specific body regions
• where is the somatosensory cortex?

  • Both hemispheres have a somatosensory cortex- Right cortex receives info from left side of the body
  • Location: parietal lobe along the postcentral gyrus
• how visual info reaches visual cortex?

  • Begins in retina at back of light where light enters and striker photoreceptors-> nerve impulses from retina transmitted to brain via optic nerve-> majority terminate in thalamus (relay station ) passes info on to visual cortex
• what is the visual cortex?

  • a region of the cerebral cortex that is responsible for processing visual data
• location of the visual cortex?

  • Location-occipital lobe
  • Spans both hemispheres-right hemisphere receiving input from left hand side of visual field 
  • Has several areas processing different types of visual info (colour shape)
• • Auditory centres (area in the brain concerned with hearing)
• • The auditory cortex is the part of the temporal lobe that processes auditory information
• pathway of auditory info

  • Cochlea in the inner ear -> sound waves converted to nerve impulses->brain stem where basic decoding takes place eg. duration and intensity of sound-> thalamus (relay station) carrying out further processing of auditory stimulus->auditory cortex - sound is recognised resulting in response 
• wernickes- lanuage comprehension

  posterioir portion of the left tempora;l lobe
• brocas- 


  involved in speech production

  posterioir portion of frontal lobe (left hemisphere)