Topic 2- The temporal lobe, occipital lobe, and parietal lobe

Two main parts of the temporal lobe

Primary auditory cortex and Wernicke’s area

Primary auditory cortex function

Processing of auditory stimuli

Wernicke’s area function

Allows for the production of speech that is understandable by others. (sequencing of words that make sense)

Wernicke’s aphasia

Damage to Wernicke’s area that results in a person being able to produce speech, but cannot sequence words to be understandable

Damage to primary auditory cortex

Damage to one side affects the ability to locate the source of a sound, since comparable signals from both cortices are required. Destruction of both PAC greatly reduces hearing sensitivity

Where is the primary visual cortex located?

At the back of the occipital lobe in both cerebral hemispheres

Primary visual cortex function

Receives and processes visual information e.g. colour, shape, motion

How does hemispheric lateralization present itself in the primary visual cortices

Both cortices receive information from the opposite eye. The right PVC receives information from the left eye and the left PVC receives information from the right eye

Where is the primary sensory cortex located?

Front of the parietal lobe

Primary sensory cortex function

Receives general sensory information from skin and proprioceptors of skeletal muscle, joints, and tendons. Capable of spatial discrimination: identification of body region being stimulated