Localisation of the brain

Localisation vs holistic theory- localisation is the theory that different areas of the brain are responsible for different behaviours, processes and activities.

scientists in early 19th century supported holistic theory that all areas of the brain were involved in processing thought and action but specific areas of the brain were later linked with specific physical and psychologicsl functions (localistion theory) and so if an area is damaged through illness or injury, the function related to that area is also damaged

Hemispheres of the brain and the cerebral cortex-

• brain is divided into two halves: the right hemisphere and the left hemisphere
• lateralisation refers to some physical and psychological functions being controlled or dominated by a particular hemisphere
• the left hemisphere controls the right side of the body and right hemisphere controls the left side of the body
• cerebral cortex is 3mm thick and covers the inner parts of the brain and is what seperates us from lower animals and is highly developed
• appears grey in colour due to localisation of cell bodies

The motor, somatosensory, visual and auditory centres-

the cortex of each hemisphere is sub-divided into 4 lobes:

the frontal lobe:

• Broca's area is located in the left frontal lobe and is responsible for sleep production, damage to this area causes Broca's aphasia - characterised by slow, laborious speech which lacks fluency, Broca's patients may have difficulty finding words and naming certain objects, also have difficulty with prepositions and conjunctions
• the motor area is located at the back of the frontal lobe which controls voluntary movement in the opposite side of the body, damage to this area of the brain may result in loss of control over fine movement. 

the parietal lobe:

• the somatosensory area is at the front of the parietal lobe and processes sensory info from the skin, e.g…