Localisation of function in the brain

• What is the concept of localization of function in the brain?

  It is the idea that specific behavioral functions are localized to particular regions of the brain
• What are the six regions of the brain that demonstrate localization of function?

  • Visual cortex
  • Motor cortex
  • Somatosensory cortex
  • Auditory cortex
  • Broca's area
  • Wernicke's area
• Which hemisphere of the brain is Broca's and Wernicke's areas generally located in?

  Left hemisphere
• What is the significance of the term "contralateral" in relation to the brain's functions?

  It means that one hemisphere of the brain controls and senses the opposite side of the body
• What is the thickness of the cortex in humans?

  Between 2 and 4 millimeters
• What is the visual cortex responsible for?

  It is responsible for visual processing
• What can damage to the visual cortex cause?

  It can cause partial or complete blindness
• Where is the motor cortex located?

  In the frontal lobe
• What happens if one side of the motor cortex is damaged?

  It can lead to loss of fine muscle function or paralysis on the opposite side of the body
• What is neglect syndrome?

  It is the loss of sensation from one side of the body
• What is Broca's area responsible for?

  It is responsible for speech production
• What is Broca's aphasia?

  It is difficulty in producing fluent speech
• What is Wernicke's area associated with?

  It is associated with understanding speech
• What happens if Wernicke's area is damaged?

  It leads to Wernicke's aphasia, difficulty in understanding language
• What are the limitations of localization of function research?

  • Damage may extend beyond specific areas
  • Functions may not be entirely localized
  • Complex connections in the brain complicate understanding
• What did Lashley's 1925 study suggest about brain functions?

  It suggested that functions are spread out across the entire brain
• What is hemispheric lateralization?

  • Different functions are specialized in each hemisphere
  • The left hemisphere is dominant for language
  • The right hemisphere is dominant for visual-spatial functions
• What does the sensory homunculus represent?

  It represents how different areas of the body are mapped in the brain based on sensory processing needs
• What is the auditory cortex responsible for?

  It receives auditory sensations from the ears
• What can damage to the auditory cortex lead to?

  It can lead to deafness
• What is the role of the central sulcus?

  It separates the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe
• What is the function of the somatosensory cortex?

  It detects sensations from the opposite side of the body
• What is agnosia?

  It is the inability to recognize objects by feeling them
• What is the significance of the term "grey matter"?

  It refers to the mass of cell bodies in the cortex
• What is the difference between grey matter and white matter?

  Grey matter consists of cell bodies, while white matter consists of myelinated axons
• What is the role of the occipital lobe?

  It is known as the visual processing center
• What happens if the somatosensory cortex is damaged?

  It can lead to loss of sensation from the opposite side of the body
• What is the function of the motor cortex?

  It plans and carries out voluntary motor movements
• What is the relationship between Broca's area and speech production?

  Broca's area is responsible for producing fluent speech
• What is the significance of the case study of patient Tan?

  It demonstrated the role of Broca's area in speech production
• What is the effect of damage to both Broca's and Wernicke's areas?

  It can lead to global aphasia, the inability to produce or understand speech
• What does modern research suggest about the localization of language processing tasks?

  It suggests that language processing is more distributed and complex than previously thought
• What is the implication of the findings from MRI scans of Tan's brain?

  They suggest that damage may extend beyond Broca's area
• What does the term "functional abilities" refer to in the context of brain damage?

  It refers to abilities like speech and memory that can be lost due to damage in specific brain areas
• What does the term "localization of function" imply about the brain's structure?

  It implies that certain areas of the brain are specialized for specific functions
• What is the significance of the sensory homunculus model?

  It illustrates how different body parts are represented in the brain based on sensory processing needs
• What does the term "hemispheric lateralization" refer to?

  It refers to the specialization of certain functions in either the left or right hemisphere of the brain
• What is the role of the central sulcus in the brain?

  It separates the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe
• What is the relationship between the motor cortex and voluntary movements?

  The motor cortex is responsible for planning and executing voluntary movements
• What is the function of the somatosensory cortex?

  It processes sensory information from the body