AO3 - Localisation of function

• Paterson et al (1988)

  • Used brain scans to demonstrate how Wernickes area was active during a listening task and Brocas area was active during a reading task.

  Tulving et al (1994)

  • Episodic and semantic memories were recalled from different sides of the prefontal cortex
  • Procedural memory is associated with the cerebellum.

  Wide range of evidence to support the idea that different areas of the brain have different functions.

  Brain scan research - Localisation of function.
• Broca

  • Patients suffered damage to Broca’s area and developed Broca’s aphasia (difficulty producing speech)

  Wernicke

  • Patients suffered damage to wernickes area and developed wernickes aphasia (difficulty understanding speech but no difficulty producing it)

  Supports the idea that specific functions are localised in specific brain areas.

  Case studies of brain damaged areas.
• • Many argue that brain functioning is more complex than localisation suggests.
  • This means some research has suggested that the way brain areas communicate may be more important than which specific brain areas control a particular process.
  • Problem because it shows that communication between brain areas makes functrioning a complex process and damage between two areas can produce problems similar to a specific localised area but more complex.


  AO3 - Localisation of function
• • Scanned Broca’s old patients with an MRI
  • Found that brocas area was not the only area that was damaged.
  • suggests brain functions involve netwroks of brain areas rather than being localised to specific areas in the brain.


  Dronkers et al (2007)
• • Removed between 10-50% of the cortex of rats that were learning a maze.
  • Found that no area was more important than any other in terms of their learning of the maze.
  • Problem as it suggests learning is too complex to be localised and requires the involvement of the whole brain.


  Lashley (1950) - Animal Studies
• • When the brain has become damaged, and a function is compromised or lost, the rest of the brain is able to reorganise and recover the lost function.
  • For example, cases of stroke victims able to recover their abilities.

  Problem because it suggests the localisation theory may be too simplistic and the brain may be more adaptive and operate in a more holistic way.

  Lashley - Brain plasticity