Localisation of Function in the Brain

• What does localisation theory suggest about the brain?

  Certain brain areas are responsible for specific processes
• Where is the motor area located?

  In the frontal lobe
• What is the function of the motor area?

  Regulating and coordinating movements
• What happens if there is damage to the motor area?

  Inability to control voluntary fine motor movements
• Where is the auditory area located?

  In the temporal lobe
• What does the auditory area process?

  Auditory information and speech
• What is the result of damage to the auditory area?

  Hearing loss
• What specific damage to the auditory area causes Wernicke’s aphasia?

  Damage to Wernicke’s area
• What is Wernicke’s aphasia characterized by?

  Use of nonsensical words and lack of awareness
• Where is the visual area located?

  In the occipital lobe
• What is the function of the visual area?

  Processing visual information
• Where is the somatosensory area located?

  In the parietal lobe
• What does the somatosensory area process?

  Information associated with the senses
• What happens if there are lesions in the somatosensory area?

  Loss of sensitivity to particular bodily areas
• What is Wernicke’s area responsible for?

  Speech comprehension
• Where is Broca’s area located?

  In the frontal lobe
• What is the function of Broca’s area?

  Responsible for speech production
• What is the result of damage to Broca’s area?

  Difficulty forming complete sentences
• What cognitive ability is associated with the left hemisphere?

  Language production and comprehension
• What are the key areas of the brain involved in language processing?

  • Motor area: regulates movements
  • Auditory area: processes auditory information
  • Visual area: processes visual information
  • Somatosensory area: processes sensory information
  • Wernicke’s area: speech comprehension
  • Broca’s area: speech production
• What are the characteristics of Wernicke’s and Broca’s aphasia?

  Wernicke’s aphasia:

  • Nonsensical words (syllogisms)
  • No awareness of errors
  • Intact pronunciation

  
  

  Broca’s aphasia:

  • Difficulty forming sentences
  • Trouble understanding sentences
  • Issues with word order comprehension
• What does it mean for language to be localised and lateralised?

  • Localised: specific brain areas for language
  • Lateralised: primarily in the left hemisphere