The Effects of Neurological Damage (AQA GCSE Psychology)

Neurological damage refers to any damage caused to the neurons in the brain caused by, for example, collision, illness or impact

One particularly serious form of neurological damage can be inflicted if someone suffers a stroke

A stroke is a dangerous, life-threatening event which occurs when the blood supply to a particular brain region is cut off or blocked

If the stroke has been particularly severe it can permanently damage the part of the brain where it has struck

A stroke may damage the motor area in the frontal lobes (either the left or the right hemisphere) of the brain

• If a stroke hits the left hemisphere this will impair movement on the right side of the body and vice versa

• The person affected by a stroke in the frontal lobes may have difficulty writing, walking, picking up objects etc.

• The extent that which movement is impaired will depend on the severity of the stroke

Suffering a stroke can also impact language abilities both the production and the comprehension of speech and other forms of language

Aphasia is the term used to describe any language impairment or disability:

• Someone who has had a stroke may struggle to:

  • understand what other people are saying

  • produce intelligible speech

  • read and/or write

Suffering a stroke in the left hemisphere could affect two specific areas:

• Broca’s area:

  • A stroke in this area results in difficulties producing speech (Broca’s aphasia)

• Wernicke’s area:

  • A stroke in this area results in difficulties understanding speech, reading and writing (Wernicke’s aphasia)