Essay
Brain and behaviour, IB psychology: localisation of function (9 marker)
- Module
- Psychology
- Institution
- Bexley College (London)
9 mark essay for biological psychology, localisation of function
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Localisation of function is the theory that specific behaviours are linked to specific locations in thebrain. One example of an area that is localised is the motor area. The motor area, which is located in
the frontal lobe, is responsible for voluntary movement and does this by sending signals to muscles in
the body. The regions of the motor area are arranged in a logical order. Another example of
localisation is the visual area. Located at the back of the brain, the visual area is in the occipital lobe
and is responsible for receiving and processing incoming visual information. Information from the
right-hand side visual field is processed in the left hemisphere, and information from the left-hand
visual field is processed in the right hemisphere. The visual area also contains different parts that
process different types of information such as shape, colour, or movement. This study will give a brief
account of localisation of function using the study by Draganski et al.
The aim of Draganski was to investigate whether the structure of an adult human brain alters in
response to environmental demands as a result of learning a new motor skill. The research method
used was a field experiment with a sample of 24 participants. A structural MRI scan was used to see
the effect of learning-induced plasticity on the brains of the participants. A baseline scan was taken
prior to learning to juggle. The participants then spent 3 months learning to juggle, with a routine of 60
seconds. A second scan was taken. The participants then stopped juggling for 3 months, and a third
scan was taken. The researcher used a repeated measures design as the participants took part in
both conditions. The findings showed that after 3 months of learning a new motor skill, there was an
increase in the volume of the two regions associated with the retention of visually detected movement.
This difference decreased after 3 months of no practice.
Draganski demonstrates that the brain is localised. This can be seen in the increase in volume of the
two regions followed by the decrease in volume. This is important as the regions increased in size
when practicing; it showed that they were being consistently used when learning a new motor skill for
visually detected movement. And when the participants stopped learning the skill, the regions
decreased in volume; these were the only two regions to change in volume, as a result, they have the
responsibility of visually detected movement. Therefore, Draganski demonstrates localisation of
function.
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