Localisation of Function & Hemispheric Lateralisation (AQA A Level Psychology)

Lotta’s grandmother suffered a stroke to the left hemisphere, damaging Broca’s area and the motor cortex.

Using your knowledge of the functions of Broca’s area and the motor cortex, describe the problems that Lotta’s grandmother is likely to experience.

Lotta’s grandmother suffered a stroke to the left hemisphere, damaging Broca’s area and the motor cortex. Lotta worries that because of her grandmother’s age she will not be able to make any recovery.

Using your knowledge of plasticity and functional recovery of the brain after trauma, explain why Lotta might be wrong.

Briefly evaluate research using split brain patients to investigate hemispheric lateralisation of function.

Kieran completes a quiz in his magazine and announces that he is ‘left brained’.

“That’s just silly”, Sam says. “You cannot just be ‘left brained’, the whole brain works together to carry out functions.”

“It’s not silly!” Kieran replies. “It says here that the left brain is responsible for speech and language.”

Discuss research into localisation of function in the brain and/or hemispheric lateralisation. Refer to Kieran and Sam’s discussion in your answer.

Outline and evaluate split-brain research.

Discuss localisation of function in the brain.

Robert suffered a stroke at the age of 55. After the stroke he was paralysed down his right side, though he could move his left arm and leg easily. Robert could clearly understand what was said to him, but was unable to produce any speech.

Discuss how knowledge of hemispheric lateralisation and language centres in the brain has helped our understanding of cases such as Robert’s. Refer to Robert’s case in your answer.