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    Ghalia Doshan - Classwork - Evaluating Localisation Theory

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    Ghalia Doshan
    The document discusses the localization theory in neuroscience, which proposes that specific mental functions are localized to distinct areas of the brain. It provides several examples of research that provide evidence for and against localization: 1) Studies of brain damage cases like Phineas Gage supported localization by linking damage to certain brain regions with deficits in specific functions. However, more recent research found cognitive functions like learning may be more distributed across the brain. 2) Brain imaging studies found language areas are activated during speaking and reading tasks, supporting localization. However, research removing brain areas in rats found no single area was critical for learning, suggesting learning involves the whole brain. 3) Neurosurgeries targeting specific brain regions helped

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    Ghalia Doshan - Classwork - Evaluating Localisation Theory

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    Ghalia Doshan
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    The document discusses the localization theory in neuroscience, which proposes that specific mental functions are localized to distinct areas of the brain. It provides several examples of research that provide evidence for and against localization: 1) Studies of brain damage cases like Phineas Gage supported localization by linking damage to certain brain regions with deficits in specific functions. However, more recent research found cognitive functions like learning may be more distributed across the brain. 2) Brain imaging studies found language areas are activated during speaking and reading tasks, supporting localization. However, research removing brain areas in rats found no single area was critical for learning, suggesting learning involves the whole brain. 3) Neurosurgeries targeting specific brain regions helped

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    Ghalia Doshan - classwork_ Evaluating Localisation theory

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    The document discusses the localization theory in neuroscience, which proposes that specific mental functions are localized to distinct areas of the brain. It provides several examples of research that provide evidence for and against localization: 1) Studies of brain damage cases like Phineas Gage supported localization by linking damage to certain brain regions with deficits in specific functions. However, more recent research found cognitive functions like learning may be more distributed across the brain. 2) Brain imaging studies found language areas are activated during speaking and reading tasks, supporting localization. However, research removing brain areas in rats found no single area was critical for learning, suggesting learning involves the whole brain. 3) Neurosurgeries targeting specific brain regions helped

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    35 views2 pages

    Ghalia Doshan - Classwork - Evaluating Localisation Theory

    Uploaded by

    Ghalia Doshan
    The document discusses the localization theory in neuroscience, which proposes that specific mental functions are localized to distinct areas of the brain. It provides several examples of research that provide evidence for and against localization: 1) Studies of brain damage cases like Phineas Gage supported localization by linking damage to certain brain regions with deficits in specific functions. However, more recent research found cognitive functions like learning may be more distributed across the brain. 2) Brain imaging studies found language areas are activated during speaking and reading tasks, supporting localization. However, research removing brain areas in rats found no single area was critical for learning, suggesting learning involves the whole brain. 3) Neurosurgeries targeting specific brain regions helped

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    of 2

    One strength is that there is research evidence supporting the idea of localisation of mental

    functions in the brain. For example, the case study of Phineas Gage demonstrated that he
    experienced neurological damage to his left frontal lobe due to a railway incident. He
    survived however the left brain damage shifted his personality from calm to quick-tempered
    and rude. This ground-breaking research has better informed present neuroscientists'
    understanding of how our brains operate, and has incentivised further scientific methods to
    brain research due to emerging technology e.g fMRI scanning, to support the localisation
    theory.

    For example, Peterson et al (1988)’s objective research used brain scans to demonstrate
    how Wernicke’s area (left temporal lobe) was active during a listening task and Broca’s area
    (left frontal lobe) during a reading task. This provides scientific credibility and validation to
    the localisation theory that was initially drawn from case studies, as findings from research
    suggest that specific parts of the brain-e.g Gage’s frontal lobe, are associated with specific
    mental functions which are localised to a part of the brain (e.g personality). This increases
    our confidence in that the theory can explain the reasons behind specific behaviours
    associated with brain damage cases/mental illnesses, which has also led to the
    establishment of innovative procedures such as neurosurgery in an attempt to treat
    illnesses.

    For example, Dougherty et al. (2002) reported on 44 OCD patients who had undergone a
    cingulotomy (neurological procedure) and at a follow up after 32 weeks, it was found that a
    third of patients had met the criteria for successful response to surgery (reduction in
    compulsions etc.). This further objective evidence to localization can be applied by
    psychologists to treat patients with serious mental disorders to improve the living standards
    of individuals. Hence this practical application of the theory has positive effects on the
    economy as the mental functioning of individuals can be improved, to help them undergo
    daily acitivities such as going to work which could improve their efficiency and financial
    stability in the long run.

    However, Lashley’s (1950) contradictory research suggests that higher cognitive functions
    such as the processes involved in learning like memory are not localised but distributed in a
    more holistic way in the brain rather than being reduced to specifc areas. He removed areas
    of the cortex in rats that were learning a maze and found that no area was proven to be
    more important than any other area in terms of the rats’ ability to learn the maze. This
    suggest that learning is too complex to be localised and requires involvement of the whole
    brain.

    These overall ideas stated above suggest that while there is credible research supporting
    the localisation theory, we cannot ignore other recent objective research into holistic brain
    functioning. Hence we cannot generalise the localisation theory to all mental functioning that
    we undergo- it may be that more complex mental functioning like decision-making and
    learning require activity in several areas of the brain (more holistic) to undergo it effectively.
    Hence, as psychologists seem to generate contradictory/ new found evidence to localisation
    over the recent decades, this suggests that the brain is a very complex human organ to
    study and remains unknown. Neuroscientists dont fully understand how information is
    processed by the brain, and the relatively limited sample of individuals within brain research
    suggests that findings generated are unable to provide an overall realistic picture of how a
    normal human brian operates.

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