Biopsychology - hemispheric lateralisation & localisation of function

Explain what is meant by hemispheric lateralisation

To investigate the [blank_start]functions[blank_end] of each hemisphere, Sperry used 11 patients who had their [blank_start]corpus callosum[blank_end] severed to reduce severe [blank_start]epilepsy[blank_end] symptoms. So the two hemispheres could not [blank_start]communicate[blank_end] information.

The functions of the left hemisphere of the brain are: [blank_start]language[blank_end], [blank_start]number skills[blank_end], [blank_start]reasoning[blank_end] and it is [blank_start]right[blank_end]-handed

The functions of the right hemisphere are: [blank_start]visual-motor tasks[blank_end], [blank_start]music awareness[blank_end], [blank_start]recognition of faces[blank_end], and it is [blank_start]left[blank_end]-handed

Sperry's split brain research: he used a [blank_start]tachistoscope[blank_end] screen to present an image or word to the left or right [blank_start]visual field[blank_end]. A range of tasks was used, involving patients responding with their left hand ([blank_start]right[blank_end] hemisphere) or right hand or [blank_start]verbally[blank_end] ([blank_start]left[blank_end] hemisphere).

In Sperry's 'Describe what you see' task, patients...

In Sperry's 'Recogniton by touch' task, patients...

In Sperry's 'Composite words' task, 2 words were presented simultaneously one on each visual field. e.g. key on the LVF and ring on the RVF. Patients...

Label the different lobes of the brain

Label the areas of the brain

Label the main functions of each area

The function of the motor cortex is to [blank_start]control[blank_end] [blank_start]voluntary[blank_end] movements. It sends [blank_start]signals[blank_end] to [blank_start]muscles[blank_end] on the opposite side of the body. The left [blank_start]hemisphere[blank_end] controls [blank_start]muscle[blank_end] [blank_start]movements[blank_end] on the [blank_start]right[blank_end] side vice versa.

The function of the auditory area is to process [blank_start]sound[blank_end] and [blank_start]speech[blank_end] based information. Info received by the left ear is processed by the [blank_start]right[blank_end] [blank_start]hemisphere[blank_end] vice versa.

The function of the somatosensory area is to process [blank_start]sensory[blank_end] information from the [blank_start]skin[blank_end]- including heat, touch and [blank_start]pressure[blank_end]. The more [blank_start]sensitive[blank_end] the area of the body, the [blank_start]larger[blank_end] part of the somatosensory area is [blank_start]devoted[blank_end] to it. E.g. Over half of this are is for [blank_start]hands[blank_end] and face.

The function of the visual [blank_start]cortex[blank_end] is to receive and process visual information. Each eye sends information from right visual [blank_start]field[blank_end] to [blank_start]left[blank_end] [blank_start]visual[blank_end] [blank_start]cortex[blank_end], vice versa.

Damage to the Broca's area causes what?

Damage to Wernicke's area causes what?

What is each area responsible for?

Where is each area localised?

[blank_start]Maguire[blank_end] found using [blank_start]MRI[blank_end] scans that London taxi drivers have a large [blank_start]volume[blank_end] of [blank_start]grey[blank_end] matter in the [blank_start]posterior[blank_end] [blank_start]hippocampus[blank_end] than in non taxi drivers. This is an area associated with spatial and [blank_start]navigational[blank_end] [blank_start]skills[blank_end]. This shows that certain [blank_start]abilities[blank_end] are localised in [blank_start]specific[blank_end] areas of the brain, as theory [blank_start]predicts. [blank_end]

A limitation of localisation theory comes from [blank_start]Lashley[blank_end]... criticised the claim that functions are localised, by proposing the [blank_start]equipotentiality[blank_end] theory- that [blank_start]basic[blank_end] [blank_start]motor[blank_end] and sensory functions are localised, but [blank_start]higher[blank_end] [blank_start]cognitive[blank_end] functions (e.g. [blank_start]Learning[blank_end]) are not. So not all functions may be localised