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Hemispheric specialisation

Identify each hemisphere

Left Hemisphere: The left hemisphere specialises in verbal and analytical functions. Analytical functions The ability to break a task down into parts and approach it in a step-by-step way, as is required when using logical reasoning to interpret and apply a formula. These same functions are used in the development of a debate or argument. Behavioural functions exclusive functions that involve sensory information and bodily movements. The left hemisphere also controls the right side of the body. Cognitive functions Non-verbal functions Verbal functions The left hemisphere is primarily engaged with the use or recognition of words. Such areas within the left hemisphere which are tasked with this are Wernickes area which is located in the left hemisphere and is involved in speech production but has a crucial role in the comprehension of speech; more specifically, with interpreting the sounds of human speech.

Right Hemisphere: The right hemisphere specialises in non-verbal functions that do not depend on language skills. Analytical functions Behavioural functions receives and processes sensations from the left side of the body, and controls it. Cognitive functions Non-verbal functions spatial and visual thinking, such as completing a jigsaw puzzle or recognising faces. This further extends to the ability to understand facial cues. Verbal functions

The Brain

The lobes of the brain

Frontal The frontal lobe is located at the front of the brain and is associated with reasoning, motor skills, higher level cognition and expressive language. At the back of the frontal lobe, near the central sulcus, lies the motor cortex. This area of the brain receives information from various lobes of the brain and utilizes this information to carry out body movements. Damage to the frontal lobe can lead to changes in sexual habits, socialisation, and attention as well as increased risk-taking. Parietal The Parietal lobe is located in the middle section of the brain and is associated with processing tactile sensory information such as pressure, touch, and pain. A portion of the brain known as the somatosensory cortex is located in this lobe and is essential to the processing of the bodys senses. Damage to the parietal lobe can result in problems with verbal memory, an impaired ability to control eye gaze and problems with language.

Occipital The Occipital lobe is located at the back portion of the brain and is associated with interpreting visual stimuli and information. The primary visual cortex, which receives and interprets information from the retinas of the eyes, is located in the occipital lobe. Damage to this lobe can cause visual problems such as difficulty recognising objects, an inability to identify colours, and trouble recognising words.

Temporal The Temporal lobe is located on the bottom section of the brain. This lobe is also the location of the primary auditory cortex, which is important for interpreting sounds and the language we hear. The hippocampus is also located in the temporal lobe, which is why this portion of the brain is also heavily associated with the formation of memories. Damage to the temporal lobe can lead to problems with memory, speech perception, and language skills.

The primary cortices somatosensory, motor, visual, auditory

Somatosensory The Somatosensory cortex is located in the left parietal lobe and processes sensory information from the right side of the body. Likewise, the primary somatosensory cortex in the right parietal lobe receives and processes sensory information from the left side of the body. The sensory areas of the lobes receive and process information from sensory receptors in the body, this information includes touch, pressure and temperature. Motor The Motor areas receive and process information about voluntary bodily movements; that is intentional movements such as when you scratch your nose or pick up a pen and write. The Primary motor cortex is located in the frontal lobe, it controls out movements by sending neural messages to various parts of the body to make them move in the required way.

Visual The sensory area that receives and processes visual information is called the primary visual cortex (this is located in the occipital lobe). The information that comes to this cortex comes from visual sensory receptors (called photoreceptors) located on the retina at back of each eye. Each hemisphere receives and processes half of the visual information. Auditory Auditory information is processed in the primary auditory cortex, which is located in the temporal lobe. Verbal sounds (such as words) are mainly processed in the primary auditory cortex of the left hemisphere and non-verbal sounds (such as music) are mainly processed in the primary auditory cortex of the right hemisphere.

Brocas area Brocas area has a crucial role in the production of articulate speech; that is, speech that is clear and fluent. Brocas area is involved with coordinating movements of the muscles required for speech and supplying this information to the appropriate motor cortex areas. Brocas Aphasia also known as non-fluent aphasia is when a person has difficulty speaking, although they continue to understand speech. Speech consists of very short sentences, typically three or four words. And these words are mainly verbs and nouns. Went house visit cousin is an example of a sentence a person with Brocas Aphasia may utter. People with Brocas aphasia are generally aware of their condition. Wernickes area A specific cortical area towards the rear of the temporal lobe of the left hemisphere only, next to the primary auditory cortex and connected to Brocas area by a bundle of nerves. Wernickes area is involved in speech production but also has a crucial role in the comprehension of speech; more specifically, with interpreting the sounds of human speech. Wernickes area is vital not just for understanding words, but also for locating appropriate words from memory to express intended meanings when we speak or write. Wernickes aphasia also known as fluent aphasia is a type of aphasia in which a person has considerable difficulty comprehending speech and speaking in a meaningful way. Unlike someone with Brocas aphasia, speech is often fluent and grammatically correct, but what is said is nonsense. An example of a sentence a person someone with Wernickes aphasia may utter would be I feel very well. In other words, I used to be able to work cigarettes. I dont know how. Things I couldnt hear from are here. People with Wernickes aphasia have little or no conscious awareness or understanding of their condition. Neurons

Sensory Neurons also known as afferent neurons, are specialised nerve cells that carry messages from sensory organs through nerves in the peripheral nervous system, up the tracts in the spinal cord to the brain. A sensory neuron carries messages from the body's sense receptors (such as your mouth, nose, fingers, etc...) to the relay neurons. The relay neurons then send the signal along the spinal cord up to the brain. After the brain has processed the information, the relay neurons run the signal down to the motor neurons, which are the neurons that affect the muscle's movements. For example, whenever you stub your toe, the pain signal shoots from your toe up to the relay

neurons via sensory neurons goes to your brain then goes back down your body and reaches your toe. This is when you feel the pain. Just imagine, this all happens in a fraction of a second.

Interneurons Also called connecting neurons, perform the important function of making the connection between sensory and motor neurons, which rarely ever connect directly. Interneurons relay messages from one type of neuron to another type of neuron. They exist only in the central nervous system (CNS). Long axon and short dendrites or long dendrites and a short axon Motor neurons Also called efferent neurons, are specialised nerve cells that carry messages away from the CNS towards the muscles, organs and glands, thereby enabling bodily movements, internal organs to be activated and glandular secretions to occur.

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