Summary localisation of function

Localisation of function

Localisation of function in the brain: motor, somatosensory, visual, auditory and language
centres

Localisation of function is the theory that different areas of the brain are responsible for
different behaviours, processes, or activities




Brain is divided into 2 hemispheres and lateralised:
Lateralisation  some physical and psychological functions are controlled by a particular
hemisphere.
- Left side of body is controlled by right hemisphere.
- Right side of body is controlled by left hemisphere.

Cerebral cortex
- Outer layer of the brain
- 3mm thick and separates us from animals as its highly developed.
- Appears grey due to location of cell bodies.
Divides into 4 lobes:
1. Frontal  motor area at the back, control voluntary movement. Damage may result
in loss of control over fine motor movements and even paralysis (impairments on
right side of body)
2. Parietal lobes  somatosensory area at the front. Processes sensory info from the
skin and senses.
3. Occipital lobe  visual area at the back of the brain, receives and processes visual
info. Each eye sends info from the right visual field to the left visual cortex and from
the left visual field to right visual cortex. (damage may cause blindness in part of the
RVF of both eyes)
4. Temporal lobe  auditory area. Analyses speech-based info responsible for
language comprehension, damage may produce partial hearing loss.