Localisation of

Function
 LOCATION FUNCTION LEFT, RIGHT OR BOTH HEMISPHERES

The motor area is responsible for voluntary Both: The motor area on one side of the

MOTOR
AREA
Frontal Lobe movements by sending signals to the brain controls the muscles on the opposite
muscles in the body. side.

The somatosensory area receives incoming

SOMATO-
SENSORY
Both: The somatosensory area on one side

AREA
sensory information from the skin to
Parietal Lobe of the brain receives sensory information
produce sensations related to pressure,
from the opposite side of the body.
pain, temperature, etc.
The visual area receives and processes visual Both: Information from the right-hand side
VISUAL AREA

information. The visual area contains
Occipital Lobe different parts that process different types
of information including colour, shape or
movement.
AUDITORY
visual field is processed in the left
hemisphere, and information from the left-
hand side visual field is processed in the
right hemisphere.
Both: Information from the left ear goes

The auditory area is responsible for

AREA

primarily to the right hemisphere and

Temporal Lobe analysing and processing acoustic
information from the right ear goes
information.
primarily to the left hemisphere.
BROCA’S

The Broca’s area is found in the left frontal

AREA

Left Frontal Lobe lobe and is thought to be involved in Left

language production.
WERNICKE’S

The Wernicke’s area is found in the left

AREA

Left Temporal Lobe temporal lobe and is thought to be involved Left

in language comprehension.
 Localisation of function in the brain and hemispheric
lateralisation:
motor, somatosensory, visual, auditory and language centres;
Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas, split brain research.
Plasticity and functional recovery of the brain after trauma.
Localisation of Function
Localisation of Function

Localisation of function is the

idea that certain functions (e.g.
language, memory, etc.) have
certain locations within the
brain.
 2.
1. Motor Area Somatosensory
Area

4. Auditory
Area

3. Visual Area
Broca’s
Area

Wernicke’
s Area
Broca’s
Area

 Named after Paul Broca

 Patient Tan – Could only say ‘Tan’
 Post-mortem examination, lesion
on left frontal lobe (Broca’s area
 Responsible for speech production
 Named after Carl Wernicke
 Patients who could talk but not
understand language
 Lesion to left temporal lobe
 Responsible for language
comprehension

Wernicke’
s Area
 2.
1. Motor Area Somatosensory
Area

Broca’s
Wernicke’
Area
s Area

4. Auditory
Area

3. Visual Area