developed than any other animal behaviours associated with serious mental disorders are localised. It appears grey due to the location of cell bodies L: As a result, the credibility of the theory of localisation is (hence ‘grey matter’) increased. The Motor, Somatosensory, Visual and Auditory Centres Case Study Evidence P: One strength of localisation theory is that there are The cortex is divided into 4 lobes: frontal, parietal, unique cases of neurological damage which support the occipital and temporal theory. Frontal lobe = motor area which controls voluntary E: For example, Phineas Gage suffered severe head trauma movement in the opposite side of the body. Damage with a trans-cranial wound that penetrated through the could result in loss of control over fine movements frontal lobe. He survived, however it was not without its Parietal lobe = somatosensory area separated by a mark. This injury altered Gage’s personality, turning him ‘valley’ called the central sulcus. Sensory information from a calm and reserved individual into someone who was from the skin is represented here e.g. touch, quick-tempered, rude and ‘no longer Gage’. pressure, heat etc. the amount of area devoted to a E: This is a strength because it shows that when one part of the body suggests it’s sensitivity level, specific, localised area of the brain is damaged, there is a receptors for our face and hands occupy over half of direct, specific impact on one function. In this instance it the somatosensory area was only Gage’s personality that was altered, whilst the rest Occipital lobe = visual area where each eye sends of his functioning recovered as normal. information to the opposite visual cortex. Damage to L: As a result the explanatory power of the localisation the left hemisphere can produce blindness in part of theory is increased. the right visual field of both eyes. Temporal lobe = auditory area which analyses speech-based information. Damage here could produce hearing loss. In addition, damage to a specific area of the temporal lobe (Wernicke’s area) could affect the ability to comprehend language.
developed than any other animal It appears grey due to the location of cell bodies (hence ‘grey matter’) behaviours associated with serious mental disorders are localised. L: As a result, the credibility of the theory of localisation is increased. The Motor, Somatosensory, Visual and Auditory Centres The cortex is divided into 4 lobes: frontal, parietal, occipital and temporal Frontal lobe = motor area which controls voluntary movement in the opposite side of the body. Damage could result in loss of control over fine movements Parietal lobe = somatosensory area separated by a ‘valley’ called the central sulcus. Sensory information from the skin is represented here e.g. touch, pressure, heat etc. the amount of area devoted to a part of the body suggests it’s sensitivity level, receptors for our face and hands occupy over half of the somatosensory area Occipital lobe = visual area where each eye sends information to the opposite visual cortex. Damage to the left hemisphere can produce blindness in part of the right visual field of both eyes. Temporal lobe = auditory area which analyses speech-based information. Damage here could produce hearing loss. In addition, damage to a specific area of the temporal lobe (Wernicke’s area) could affect the ability to comprehend language. Case Study Evidence P: One strength of localisation theory is that there are unique cases of neurological damage which support the theory. E: For example, Phineas Gage suffered severe head trauma with a trans-cranial wound that penetrated through the frontal lobe. He survived, however it was not without its mark. This injury altered Gage’s personality, turning him from a calm and reserved individual into someone who was quick-tempered, rude and ‘no longer Gage’. E: This is a strength because it shows that when one specific, localised area of the brain is damaged, there is a direct, specific impact on one function. In this instance it was only Gage’s personality that was altered, whilst the rest of his functioning recovered as normal. L: As a result the explanatory power of the localisation theory is increased.