1. Biopsychology
Lesson 10
Localisation and plasticity of the brain, brain investigation and split brain research.

2. Localisation and Function of the brain

3. Learning aims and objectives
Localisation of the brain
Explain what is meant by localisation of function
Describe one study investigating localisation of function
Evaluate the extent to which brain functions are localised
Plasticity and functional recovery
Define what is meant by plasticity
Outline and evaluate research into plasticity of the brain
You could have an essay for these topics

4. Brain Models- Playdough Create and label your brain You have ten minutes – no notes
Checking of flipped work- Brain construction using play dough
In pairs or threes learners construct a brain and label using cocktail sticks & sticky labels or post- its
Learners present their brains on their desks and students move round assessing the brains against the image on the ppt- learners vote for the best one (polleverewhere?) prize?

5. Assessment Art Gallery
Auditory area
Broca’s area
Motor area
Somatosensory area
Visual area
Wernicke’s area
Occipital
lobe
Frontal Lobe
Parietal Lobe
Temporal Lobe
Broca – production of speech
Wernickes – understanding
Hemispheres of brain (two) and Cerebral Cortex (subdivided into 4 lobes- frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal)
Frontal= motor which controls movement
Parietal= somatosensory which represents sensory info
Occipital= visual cortex sent information from the eye
Temporal= auditory analysing speech- Broca and Wernickes areas

6. Consider the following and discuss
“Clive Wearing had impaired semantic memory but his procedural memory was unaffected”
“The Case of Phineas Gage recovered as the rest of his brain compensated for the damage.”
“Lashley (1950) conducted work on rat’s brains and did not find a specific area for memory”
“Evidence from individual case studies demonstrate specific deficits such as loss of speech function”
Now decide:
Is the brain localised or multifunctional throughout?
Task 1: Is the brain localised or multifunctional throughout?
Localisation – Wearing/individual case studies - Semantic – memory procedural – doing
Phineas gage/Lashley – multifunctional

7. Localisation or holistic theory
Task 2:
Individually, elaborate the following evaluation points that could be used for the localization and function of the brain
Evaluation activity 2- Localisation vs Lateralisation (holistic)
Elaboration activity – (QR CODES HAVE BEEN PRINTED)
QR codes are placed around the room
Learners scan their code which will take them to an evaluation point. Learners must elaborate on this point in their note books and go to the teacher and show them. This continues until they have written up 5 evaluation points as a pair.
If finish - Learners write up two evaluation points on handout
scientific evidence- support = validity/reliability
In a study using neurosurgery, Dougherty et al (2002) found that lesioning the cingulate gyrus improved symptoms of OCD - support for localisation
The case of Phineas Gage is difficult to draw general conclusions from. case study
Lashey (1950) conducted research on learning processes in rats and found that higher cognitive function is distributed in the brain and requires every part of the cortex supports a holistic theory but animal research
The notion of Plasticity describes that when a brain is damaged the rest of the brain reorganises itself to adapt. supports holistic theory and challenges locatlisation

8. 5 minute essay plan- Wallboards
Construct a bullet point essay plan for the following
“ Discuss the extent to which brain functions are localised. Refer to evidence in you answer”
(16 marks)

9. Essay Plan- The Extent to which brain functions are localised
Ao1 Outline- (6 marks = 6 points)
Localisation vs holistic theory - define
Hemispheres of brain (two) and Cerebral Cortex (subdivided into 4 lobes- frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal)
Frontal= motor which controls movement
Parietal= somatosensory which represents sensory info
Occipital= visual cortex sent information from the eye
Temporal= auditory analysing speech- Broca and Wernickes areas
A03 Evaluate (potential content) (10 marks)
Remember- 3 good elaborative points are better than 5 weaker points
Supportive research- Case studies (Phineas Gage/ Clive Wearing)
Supportive research- Neurological studies (Peterson et al)
Evaluation of research- Case study methods   or lab experiments  
Challenging research- Lashey/ Phineas Gage?
Challenging theory- Plasticity
Application- Mental health disorders/ Memory

10. Split brain research

11. Hemispheric lateralisation
What do we mean by this?
Information seen in left visual field or felt in our left hand is processed by the ????? hemisphere
Information seen in right visual field or felt in our right hand is processed by the ????? hemisphere
Corpus callosum
What is this?
Split brain surgery involves…..?

12. Sperry’s procedure Based on your knowledge of Sperry’s procedure:
On mini-whiteboards - Describe what is happening in the picture.
This is a T scope (tachistoscope). P focuses on central point of screen and image or word is flashed to one or both visual fields. They then will be asked to do several tasks, including saying what they saw or picking up objects that are hidden from view (as seen in picture).

13. Sperry’s findings
The following slides are recapping some of the key findings you have looked at. These can be tricky to get your head around but hopefully by the end of this task you will feel more confident.
The activities to follow are designed for them to get their heads around the research findings as it can be mind-bendy!

14. Can you point to (with your left hand) what you saw?
Imagine you are one of Sperry’s split brain patients
RVF
LVF
Can you point to (with your left hand) what you saw?
Left
Hemisphere
Right
Hemisphere
What did you see?
? ? ? ? ? ? ?

15. Imagine you are one of Sperry’s split brain patients
RVF
LVF
Left
Hemisphere
Right
Hemisphere
What did you see?
A happy face!

16. TWO different words displayed e.g. KEY and RING
Describe what is happening in this picture.
When two different words are displayed at the same time the split-brain participant will be say they saw the word ring but when asked to pick up the object they saw with their left hand will pick up a key.

17. Draw (with your left hand) what you saw.
$ ?
RVF
LVF
Draw (with your left hand) what you saw.
Left
Hemisphere ?
Right
Hemisphere $
What did you see?
A question mark $

18. Tactile tasks (could not see objects)
RH = Objects could be
named. Why?
As speech is processed in left hemisphere it can only be named by the p when picked up with the right hand.
LH = Objects could not be
named. Why?
However, LH could pick out the object
When it was placed with others in a grab bag

19. Evaluation of Split Brain Research
Strengths of the methodology
Weaknesses of the methodology
Issues with control group
Data came from artificial situation
Small samples used.
Use of specialist equipment.
Use of standardised procedures
Complete Task 4 and 5 on split-brain research

20. Exam focus
Q1. Split brain patients show unusual behaviour when tested in experiments. Briefly explain how unusual behaviour in split brain patients could be tested in an experiment. [2 marks] Q2. Briefly evaluate research using split brain patients to investigate hemispheric lateralisation of function. [4 marks]

21. Possible answers – Q1
plausible experimental situation/set-up – eg split visual field
plausible stimulus – visual, faces, words, auditory, digits, music etc
plausible task for patient – verbal or visuospatial response, eg drawing, matching etc

22. Possible answers – Q2
The comparison groups were not considered to be valid as they were often people with no history of epileptic seizures
The data were artificially produced as in real life a severed corpus callosum can be compensated for by the unrestricted use of two eyes
Research relates to small sample sizes.
The research has added to the unity of consciousness debate

23. Investigating the Brain

24. FMRI
Watch this video on fMRI: (stop at 2 minutes 41 seconds)
What does fMRI stand for?
What does it mean when a brain area is more active?
What are the problems with trying to measure brain activity from the scalp?
What happens to oxygen levels when a neuron becomes more active?

25. EEG
Watch this video on EEG: (stop at 4 minutes 40 seconds)
Why do we use EEG
Why is EEG a good method
What does temporal resolution mean
How does EEG work, on a basic level?
What is the most important part of the kit? How many electrodes does it have
What happens to the brain waves when the individual blinks?

26. ERP/Post-Mortem
Read the handout and answer the questions

27. Apply your knowledge A psychologist wants to investigate:
Brain waves triggered by being tickled on the hand
Brain waves during different stages of sleep (REM-dream sleep and N-REM)
Difference in frontal lobe activity of psychopaths and normal controls
Structure of the brain of a girl called Genie (who was locked in a room with no contact for the first 8 years of her life) and has now passed away.
Which would be the best method of investigation for each of these examples?
Explain why this method is more suitable for this particular example, than the other methods?