Lateralisation & Localisation

• Brain lateralisation


  The two hemispheres of the brain are not exactly alike and each has a functional specialism.
• Contralateral organisation


  The right side of the brain controls the left side of the body. The left hemisphere controls the right side of the body.
• Localisation of functioning


  Specific areas of the brain are responsible for different functions.
• Motor area


  Located in the back of the frontal lobe, deals with voluntary movements, the regions are located in a logical order.
• Somatosensory area


  Located in the parietal lobe, receives sensory information about pressure, touch, pain and heat, nearly half of receptors are in the face due to so many senses.
• Auditory area


  Located in the temporal lobe, processes information about tempo, loudness and pitch.
• Visual area


  Located at the back of the brain in the occipital lobe, information from the left is processed on the right and vice versa, processes information about colour, shapes and movement.
• Broca's area


  Located in the left frontal lobe and is involved in speech production.
• Damage to Broca's area

  You know what you want to say but can't: Broca's/Motor aphasia, which results in slow, inarticulate speech. For example, Patient Tan.
• Wernicke's area


  Located in the left temporal lobe and is involved in language comprehension.
• Damage to Wernicke's area


  Patients can talk but cannot find the right word: non-fluent aphasia. Cannot produce meaningful sentences.