Lateralization/Split Brains Study Guide

Much of what is known about hemispheric lateralization of function goes back to patients
studied in the 19th century by Drs. Broca and Wernicke. They each now have a region of cortex
that bears their name. Where is Broca’s area and where is Wernicke’s area—in which lobe of
the brain is each found?

In which hemisphere are Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area usually found?

What are the symptoms of damage to Broca’s area?

What are the symptoms of damage to Wernicke’s area?

What is the relationship between “handedness” and lateralization of speech/language functions?

Think back to the FFA region of the cortex believed to the important for face recognition,
another example of a lateralized function.

And what about those with contralateral neglect—where is the site of brain damage that leads to
that condition?

Be sure you understand what happens when visual stimuli (such as the two halves of a
compound word) are projected to the two visual fields while a split-brain patient like Joe fixates
on a + on the midline of his visual field. Which of these words can he consciously see? Which
can he read? Which can he draw, or select from behind a screen, with one of his hands, even
though he’s not consciously aware of what was projected?