Localization Of Brain Function Pysch Ho
Localization of Brain Function
Shaun Mitchell
104281411
Case 1. Dr. Holmes sees a series of patients with gunshot injuries to parts of their frontal lobes. The location of the damage to each person’s brain is indicated in the drawing. Patient 1 has some paralysis of his right hip and thigh muscles. Patient 2 has paralyzed trunk muscles on his right side. Patient 3’s right arm is paralyzed. Patient 4 shows paralysis of the muscles on the right side of her face.
A. What method is being used to study brain function?
The method that is being used to study the brain’s function is called Phrenology but later on this study was falsified. (pg. 113)
B. What does this part of the brain do?
The motor cortex creates signals responsible for voluntary movement. (pg. 103)
C. What can you say about the representation of this function in the brain based on this information (what are the rules of organization)?
The body is mapped onto the motor complex by the networks of the brain in an organized and systematic way, with certain parts of the motor and the somatosensory cortex mapping onto certain parts of the body. (pg.102)
Case 2. Dr. Broca’s patient (J) has suddenly lost his ability to speak, apparently due to a stroke. After J dies, Dr. Broca studies the brain and discovers an area of damage in the location marked with J in the drawing below. Later another patient (K) dies and Dr. Broca is amazed to discover that this patient has damage to the comparable area of the brain on the right side, with NO effect on speech.
A. What method is being used to study brain function?
The method that is being used to study brain function is called stereotaxic methods. (pg.113)
B. What does the area of the brain marked J do?
Broca’s area is responsible for the formation of speech and is a vital part to that. (pg.103)
C. What can we say about the lateralization of this function based on the information provided?
Broca’s area is located in the prefrontal cortex.
Shaun Mitchell
104281411
Case 1. Dr. Holmes sees a series of patients with gunshot injuries to parts of their frontal lobes. The location of the damage to each person’s brain is indicated in the drawing. Patient 1 has some paralysis of his right hip and thigh muscles. Patient 2 has paralyzed trunk muscles on his right side. Patient 3’s right arm is paralyzed. Patient 4 shows paralysis of the muscles on the right side of her face.
A. What method is being used to study brain function?
The method that is being used to study the brain’s function is called Phrenology but later on this study was falsified. (pg. 113)
B. What does this part of the brain do?
The motor cortex creates signals responsible for voluntary movement. (pg. 103)
C. What can you say about the representation of this function in the brain based on this information (what are the rules of organization)?
The body is mapped onto the motor complex by the networks of the brain in an organized and systematic way, with certain parts of the motor and the somatosensory cortex mapping onto certain parts of the body. (pg.102)
Case 2. Dr. Broca’s patient (J) has suddenly lost his ability to speak, apparently due to a stroke. After J dies, Dr. Broca studies the brain and discovers an area of damage in the location marked with J in the drawing below. Later another patient (K) dies and Dr. Broca is amazed to discover that this patient has damage to the comparable area of the brain on the right side, with NO effect on speech.
A. What method is being used to study brain function?
The method that is being used to study brain function is called stereotaxic methods. (pg.113)
B. What does the area of the brain marked J do?
Broca’s area is responsible for the formation of speech and is a vital part to that. (pg.103)
C. What can we say about the lateralization of this function based on the information provided?
Broca’s area is located in the prefrontal cortex.