Localisation of function in the brain

• In the 19th century, there was the holistic view that the entire brain processes thoughts, localisation was a theory later proposed by Broca and Wernicke that specific areas of the brain are linked to certain physical and physiological functions.
• The brain is divided into two halves called hemispheres.
• The idea of hemispheric lateralisation is that the left hemisphere is responsible for the functions of the right hand side of the body and language and the right hemisphere is responsible functions of the left hand side of the body and for spatial awareness.
• The centres of the brain

  A) Frontal

  B) Temporal

  C) Parietal

  D) Occupital

  
• The motor area controls voluntary movement and is located in the frontal lobe.
• The somatosensory area is the location of awareness of our environment and our senses.
• The auditory area is in the temporal lobe and controls auditory ability and speech based information.
• Damage to the motor area may result in losing control over fine movements.
• The visual area is in the occupital lobe; it is responsible for processing visual information. Each eye sends information from the right visual field to the left visual cortex.
• Damage to the left hemisphere could lead to blindness in part of the right visual field of both eyes.
• Damage to the auditory area in the temporal lobe could lead to partial hearing loss.
• Wernickes area is responsible for language comprehension.
• Broca's area is responsible for speech production in the left frontal lobe.
• Wernicke's area is responsible for speech and language comprehension in the left temporal lobe.
• If Broca's area is damaged, it can lead to Broca's aphasia; symptoms include Slow, laborious speech and lacking fluency, Poor or absent grammar, Difficulty forming complete sentences.
• If Wernicke's area is damaged, it can lead to Wernicke's aphasia; symptoms include Saying many words that don't make sense.

  Unable to understand the meaning of words.

  Able to speak well in long sentences but they don't make sense.

  Using the wrong words or nonsense words.

  Unable to understand written words.