Localisation of Function in the Brain

What is localisation of brain function?

The theory that specific functions are localised and can be found in specific locations in the brain

The brain

Divided into two hemispheres, left and right and is covered by the cerebral cortex. Each hemisphere has different functions, each lobe is responsible for specific functions located within the hemisphere

What are the lobes of the brain?

Frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe and occipital lobe

Frontal lobe

Consists of the motor cortex and Broca’s area (only in the left hemisphere)

Motor cortex

Regulates movement. If damaged, may result in loss of control over fine movements

Broca’s area

Responsible for speech production. Damage can cause Broca’s aphasia, causes slow speech and lacks fluency. Discovered when treating a patient, couldn’t understand spoken language, could only say Tan. Post mortem showed he had a lesion

Temporal lobe

Consists of auditory area and Wernicke’s area (only in the left hemisphere)

Auditory area

Processes and analyses acoustic info. If damaged, may produce hearing loss or speech problems

Wernicke’s area

Responsible for language comprehension. If damaged, causes Wernicke’s aphasia. Patients with a lesion are able to speak but are unable to comprehend language

Parietal lobe

Consists of the somatosensory cortex

Somatosensory complex

Processes sensory info and governs body orientation

Occipital lobe

Consists of the visual cortex

Visual cortex

Receives and processes visual info. If damaged, can produce blindness in 1 or both visual fields