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Localization of Function in The Brain

This document discusses brain localization and how functions were thought to be localized to specific brain areas. It provides examples of Broca's area and Wernicke's area and how damage to these areas results in specific language impairments. While early research supported this classical localization view, more modern research challenges this, finding that the brain is not as localized and can adapt through neuroplasticity. The document summarizes a study by Hull and Vaid (2006) that analyzed brain lateralization in bilinguals. The study found that age of acquiring a second language was a key variable, with those acquiring after age 6 showing left hemisphere dominance like monolinguals, supporting the age of second language hypothesis.

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50 views20 pages

Localization of Function in The Brain

This document discusses brain localization and how functions were thought to be localized to specific brain areas. It provides examples of Broca's area and Wernicke's area and how damage to these areas results in specific language impairments. While early research supported this classical localization view, more modern research challenges this, finding that the brain is not as localized and can adapt through neuroplasticity. The document summarizes a study by Hull and Vaid (2006) that analyzed brain lateralization in bilinguals. The study found that age of acquiring a second language was a key variable, with those acquiring after age 6 showing left hemisphere dominance like monolinguals, supporting the age of second language hypothesis.

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LOCALIZATION OF

FUNCTION IN THE BRAIN

Lecture by: M.K. Sastry


Neuroplasticity
What is brain localization?
 This is where one section of the brain is
responsible for a specific function.
 This is the Classic Localizationist View.
 Three Key Examples of this “classical view”
are:
• Broca’s Area
• Wernicke’s Area
• Split Brain
Broca’s Area
 Damage to any one of several cortical areas can
cause aphasia.
 In 1865, Paul Broca reported that after
damage to a specific area of the left frontal
lobe a person would struggle to speak
words while still being able to sing familiar
songs and comprehend speech.
Wernicke’s Area
 In 1874, Carl Wernicke discovered that after
damage to a specific area of the left
temporal lobe people could speak only
meaningless words.
Localization Research
 Broca’s and Wenicke’s research gave the
first proof of brain localization…
 That specific areas of the brain provided
specific functions.
Split-Brain Research
Criticism of Classic Localization
Studies

 Studied on small number of participants.


 Participants are often “different” before
they started.
 Not done on the general population.
Modern Viewpoint
 The brain is not as localized as once
believed.
 Neuroplasticity allows the brain to adapt.
 Multiple brain areas coordinate to
complete cognitive functioning.
Modern Localization Research:
Bilingualism
 Hull and Vaid (2006)
 Studied Bilingualism
Past Research on Bilingualism
 Left hemisphere was dominant for
language processing, the right hemisphere
supported the process more than was
originally believed.
Past Research on Bilingualism
 Case studies on language loss and recovery
in bilingual aphasics led research to believe
that multiple languages might be localized
in different brain areas.
Past Research on Bilingualism
 The age that someone acquires a second
language and their level of proficiency
might affect the pattern of left hemisphere
dominance.
Hull and Vaid (2006)
4 Hypotheses
1. Second Language Hypothesis- bilinguals use more of
the right brain.
2. Balanced Bilingual Hypothesis- proficient bilinguals
are more right-brain lateralized than monolinguals.
3. Age of second language hypothesis- the closer in
time two languages are acquired, the more similar
the brain localization.
4. Stage of Second Language hypothesis- early stages of
learning a second language depends largely on
contextual cues which are located in the right
hemisphere.
Hull and Vaid (2006)
 A meta-analysis was conducted.
 23 studies
 1234 normal monolingual and bilingual
participants.
 AIM: Under what conditions did a second
language affect brain development.
Hull and Vaid (2006)
 Studied the following three variables:
• Experience (monolinguals or bilinguals)
• Proficiency
• Age acquiring the second language (before or
after age 6).
Hull and Vaid (2006)
 Key Findings
• Early Experience KEY variable.
 Monolinguals and Bilinguals who acquired
their second language after 6 showed the
most left hemisphere dominance.
 Supports the age of second language
hypothesis.
Key Findings
 Early bilinguals were bilateral.
 Supports the second language hypothesis.
 No significant hemispheric localization
differences between the proficient and
non-proficient bilinguals.
Key Findings
 The left hemisphere is not as dominant for
language as once thought.
 Bilateralism does occur.
 More research is needed on normal brains
to examine this further.
Thank You

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