1. LO #5: Explain one study related to localization of function of the brain
Brain Localization

2. Brain Localization
The concept that different parts of the brain perform different functions

3. Phineas Gage: A Gruesome Case Study (Harlow, 1848)

4. The Facts Railway Worker who ran an iron rod through his frontal lobe
Never lost consciousness
Lived a healthy physical life after the accident
Personality changed from pleasant to violent and offensive

5. The Findings
The Frontal Lobe: must be responsible for…some aspects of personality like social judgment, rational decision-making, and following through on goals

6. Case Study of “Tan” (Broca 1861)
Paul Broca worked with patients who could understand speech, but had trouble producing it
One of his patients could only say one word which was “tan”
Broca conducted a post-mortem exam and found that he suffered from a serious brain trauma to his left frontal lobe

7. This area of the brain is now called “Broca’s Area”
Followup Studies
After conducting more post-mortem studies on his stroke victims, Broca was able to confirm that the damage to the left frontal lobe correlated with speech production.
This area of the brain is now called “Broca’s Area”

8. Carl Wernicke (1874)
Building on Broca’s findings, Wernicke studied stroke victims who could produce speech, but could not understand it
After conducting post-mortem studies, he identified a part of the brain responsible for language comprehension
This part (left posterior superior temporal gyros) was later named “Wernicke’s Area”

9. These studies all support localization, but…
Not all psychologists agree with the idea that one area of the brain is solely responsible for a function
They believe that areas work together and can compensate for deficiencies or injury to one area

10. Proof of Brain Localization:
Phineas Gage case study
Broca’s work with “Tan” and other stroke victims
Wernicke’s research on stroke victims
Sperry & Split Brain Research