Localisation of function | AQA A-Level Psychology Revision

For 7182 specification, first teach in September 2025

AQA A-Level Psychology | Free Revision Notes

Estimated study time: 45 minutes

These Localisation of function A-Level Psychology revision notes explain how particular areas of the brain are associated with particular physical and psychological functions. You will examine the motor, somatosensory, visual and auditory centres before comparing the roles of Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas in language. This lesson builds on evidence collected through functional brain scanning, electrical recordings of brain activity and structural examinations after death.

Learning Objectives 🎯

By the end of this revision page, you should be able to:

• Define localisation of function.

• Explain why the cerebral cortex is divided into specialised areas.

• Identify the locations and functions of the motor, somatosensory, visual and auditory centres.

• Explain contralateral control and processing.

• Describe the role of Broca’s area.

• Describe the role of Wernicke’s area.

• Apply knowledge of localisation to unfamiliar examples of brain damage.

Revision Notes 📚

Localisation of function A-Level Psychology revision overview

Localisation of function is the principle that particular areas of the brain are responsible for particular physical and psychological functions.

According to this view, functions are not distributed equally across every part of the brain. Instead, different areas make specialised contributions.

The AQA specification requires knowledge of:

• The motor centre.

• The somatosensory centre.

• The visual centre.

• The auditory centre.

• Language centres.

• Broca’s area.

• Wernicke’s area.

It also connects localisation with hemispheric lateralisation, which considers whether functions are more strongly associated with one cerebral hemisphere than the other.

Source boundary note

The AQA specification identifies the centres and language areas students must study but does not provide detailed anatomical descriptions of each one. The explanations below provide the standard AQA-level clarification needed to understand those named areas without extending into more detailed neuroanatomy.

The cerebral cortex

The cerebral cortex is the outer layer of the brain.

It is divided into two cerebral hemispheres:

• The left hemisphere.

• The right hemisphere.

Each hemisphere can also be divided into four main lobes:

Lobe	General location	Localised centre covered here
Frontal lobe	Front of the brain	Motor centre and Broca’s area
Parietal lobe	Upper rear area	Somatosensory centre
Occipital lobe	Back of the brain	Visual centre
Temporal lobe	Side of the brain	Auditory centre and Wernicke’s area

These locations provide a useful framework for remembering the centres.

The main localised centres

Centre	Main location	Main function
Motor centre	Frontal lobe	Controls voluntary movement
Somatosensory centre	Parietal lobe	Processes sensory information from the body
Visual centre	Occipital lobe	Processes visual information
Auditory centre	Temporal lobe	Processes sound
Broca’s area	Usually left frontal lobe	Speech production
Wernicke’s area	Usually left temporal lobe	Language comprehension

A strong examination answer should name both the location and the function when the question requires identification of a centre.

The motor centre

The motor centre, also called the motor cortex, is located in the frontal lobe.

Its main function is to control voluntary movement.

A voluntary movement is an action performed under conscious control, such as:

• Raising a hand.

• Moving a leg.

• Writing.

• Turning the head.

• Picking up an object.

The motor centre sends instructions that allow skeletal muscles to produce movement.

The pathway involves:

1. The motor centre organises an instruction.

2. The instruction travels from the central nervous system.

3. Motor neurons carry information towards skeletal muscles.

4. The muscles contract.

5. Movement occurs.

The outgoing communication can be reviewed through sensory, relay and motor pathways.

Contralateral motor control

The motor centre generally controls movement on the opposite side of the body.

This is called contralateral control.

• The motor centre in the left hemisphere primarily controls the right side of the body.

• The motor centre in the right hemisphere primarily controls the left side of the body.

Therefore, damage to the left motor centre may impair movement on the right side of the body.

The relationship can be represented as:

Motor-centre damage	Likely side affected
Left hemisphere	Right side of the body
Right hemisphere	Left side of the body

⚠️ Do not assume that damage affects movement on the same side of the body.

Organisation of the motor centre

Different parts of the motor centre are associated with movement in different body areas.

The amount of motor-centre tissue linked with a body part is related to the precision of movement required rather than simply the body part’s physical size.

For example, movements involving the fingers require considerable fine control.

The central examination point is that the motor centre is organised and that damage to different parts may affect different voluntary movements.

Effects of damage to the motor centre

Damage to the motor centre may cause:

• Difficulty controlling voluntary movement.

• Weakness or loss of movement.

• Problems coordinating a particular body area.

• Impairment on the side opposite the damaged hemisphere.

The precise effect depends on:

• Which hemisphere is damaged.

• The particular region affected.

• The extent of the damage.

• Whether other motor pathways remain intact.

A psychologist should avoid concluding that every movement difficulty must result from motor-centre damage. Muscles, motor neurons and other parts of the nervous system may also be involved.

Applying the motor centre

Consider the following scenario:

Following damage to an area in the left frontal lobe, Kian finds it difficult to control movements of his right hand.

This may be explained through localisation because:

• The motor centre is located in the frontal lobe.

• It controls voluntary movement.

• Motor control is generally contralateral.

• Damage in the left hemisphere may therefore affect movement on the right side.

• The affected part of the motor centre may contribute to control of Kian’s hand.

The somatosensory centre

The somatosensory centre, also called the somatosensory cortex, is located in the parietal lobe.

It processes sensory information received from the body.

This information may include:

• Touch.

• Pressure.

• Pain.

• Temperature.

• The position of body parts.

Sensory receptors detect information and sensory neurons carry it towards the central nervous system.

The somatosensory centre helps the person interpret the bodily sensation.

Sensation and perception

A receptor detects a stimulus, but the experience of sensation requires processing within the brain.

For example:

1. Receptors in the skin detect pressure.

2. Sensory neurons carry information towards the central nervous system.

3. The information reaches the somatosensory centre.

4. The brain processes the location and nature of the sensation.

5. The person experiences being touched.

The somatosensory centre does not create the original physical stimulus. It processes the information produced when the stimulus is detected.

Contralateral somatosensory processing

The somatosensory centre generally receives information from the opposite side of the body.

• The left somatosensory centre processes information mainly from the right side.

• The right somatosensory centre processes information mainly from the left side.

Damage to the left parietal lobe may therefore affect the processing of sensory information from the right side of the body.

As with motor control, the relationship is largely contralateral.

Organisation of the somatosensory centre

Different areas of the somatosensory centre process information from different parts of the body.

The amount of cortical area linked with a particular body part reflects its sensitivity.

Body areas with many sensory receptors require greater processing.

For example, the hands and lips are highly sensitive and require considerable somatosensory processing.

The key examination point is that the centre contains specialised areas rather than processing every body sensation in exactly the same location.

Effects of damage to the somatosensory centre

Damage may result in:

• Reduced sensitivity to touch.

• Difficulty identifying where a sensation occurred.

• Impaired processing of pressure, temperature or pain.

• Difficulty recognising sensory information from a particular body area.

• Problems affecting the side opposite the damaged hemisphere.

The person’s receptors may still detect information, but cortical damage could interfere with its interpretation.

Applying the somatosensory centre

Consider this scenario:

After damage to the right parietal lobe, Zahra can move her left arm but has difficulty processing touch on that side.

A localised explanation would state:

• The somatosensory centre is located in the parietal lobe.

• It processes bodily sensory information.

• Somatosensory processing is generally contralateral.

• Damage in the right hemisphere may therefore affect sensations from the left side.

• Movement remains possible because the motor centre performs a different function.

This example shows why motor and somatosensory functions must not be confused.

Comparing motor and somatosensory centres

Motor centre	Somatosensory centre
Located in the frontal lobe	Located in the parietal lobe
Controls voluntary movement	Processes bodily sensory information
Sends instructions towards muscles	Receives and interprets incoming sensory information
Associated with motor output	Associated with sensory input
Usually controls the opposite side	Usually processes the opposite side

A useful memory rule is:

• Motor means movement out.

• Somatosensory means bodily sensation in.

The visual centre

The visual centre, also called the visual cortex, is located in the occipital lobe at the back of the brain.

Its main function is to process visual information.

The eyes detect light, but seeing requires the brain to process the information received.

The pathway can be summarised as:

Visual stimulus → receptors in the eyes → nervous-system transmission → visual centre → visual processing

The visual centre contributes to the interpretation of features such as:

• Shape.

• Colour.

• Movement.

• Position.

• Patterns within the visual field.

Contralateral visual processing

Visual information is processed in a partly contralateral way.

Information from the right visual field is processed primarily in the left visual cortex.

Information from the left visual field is processed primarily in the right visual cortex.

Visual information	Main hemisphere processing it
Right visual field	Left hemisphere
Left visual field	Right hemisphere

This concerns the visual field rather than simply the eye from which the information came.

Information from both eyes contributes to visual processing.

Effects of damage to the visual centre

Damage to the visual centre may cause:

• Loss of part of the visual field.

• Difficulty processing visual information.

• Problems recognising visual features.

• Different impairments depending on which part of the centre is affected.

Damage to one hemisphere may particularly affect the opposite visual field.

It is inaccurate to state simply that occipital damage always causes total blindness. The effect depends on the location and extent of the damage.

Applying the visual centre

Consider the following scenario:

A patient has healthy eyes but cannot process information from part of the visual field following damage to the occipital lobe.

This supports localisation because:

• The occipital lobe contains the visual centre.

• The eyes may detect light normally.

• Damage within the brain may prevent the information from being processed properly.

• The problem therefore concerns cortical visual processing rather than the eyes themselves.

The auditory centre

The auditory centre, also called the auditory cortex, is located in the temporal lobe.

Its main function is to process sound.

The ears detect sound waves, but conscious hearing requires the brain to process the incoming information.

The pathway can be summarised as:

Sound → receptors in the ears → nervous-system transmission → auditory centre → sound processing

The auditory centre contributes to processing features such as:

• Pitch.

• Volume.

• Rhythm.

• The location of a sound.

• Patterns within auditory information.

Auditory processing and the hemispheres

Auditory pathways are not as simply contralateral as motor and somatosensory pathways.

Each auditory centre receives information connected with both ears, although there may be stronger contralateral connections.

This means damage to one auditory centre may not cause complete loss of hearing in one ear.

Students should avoid using an oversimplified rule that the left auditory centre processes only the right ear.

Effects of damage to the auditory centre

Damage may result in:

• Difficulty processing sound.

• Problems distinguishing auditory information.

• Difficulty recognising patterns in sounds.

• Impaired interpretation despite the ears functioning normally.

The exact effect depends on the area and extent of damage.

Language comprehension also involves specialised language processing, particularly Wernicke’s area, rather than the auditory centre alone.

Applying the auditory centre

Consider this scenario:

Following temporal-lobe damage, a person can detect that a sound occurred but has difficulty interpreting its features.

A localised explanation could state that:

• The auditory centre is located in the temporal lobe.

• It processes auditory information.

• The person’s ears may continue detecting sound.

• Cortical damage may interfere with the interpretation of that sound.

Comparing visual and auditory centres

Visual centre	Auditory centre
Located in the occipital lobe	Located in the temporal lobe
Processes visual information	Processes sound
Receives information originating in the eyes	Receives information originating in the ears
Damage may affect visual fields or visual processing	Damage may affect the interpretation of auditory information

Both centres process sensory information, but they are specialised for different sensory modalities.

Language centres

Language is associated particularly with two areas:

• Broca’s area

• Wernicke’s area

In most people, these language areas are located in the left hemisphere.

This illustrates both:

• Localisation, because different areas have different language functions.

• Lateralisation, because language is usually associated more strongly with the left hemisphere.

The wider division of functions between hemispheres is covered in language lateralisation and split-brain evidence.

Broca’s area

Broca’s area is located in the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere.

It is primarily associated with speech production.

It contributes to the production of fluent, meaningful spoken language.

Damage to Broca’s area can produce a pattern known as Broca’s aphasia.

Broca’s aphasia

A person with damage to Broca’s area may:

• Speak slowly.

• Produce speech with considerable effort.

• Use short or incomplete sentences.

• Omit connecting words.

• Have difficulty producing fluent language.

• Retain better language comprehension than speech production.

Their speech may contain meaningful content, but it is difficult and non-fluent.

For example, rather than producing a complete sentence, the person may use a few central words.

The main examination distinction is:

Broca’s area is associated mainly with producing speech.

Broca’s area and the motor centre

Broca’s area and the motor centre are both associated with the frontal lobe, but they have different functions.

Broca’s area	Motor centre
Produces spoken language	Controls voluntary movement
Language-specific function	General motor function
Damage may produce non-fluent speech	Damage may impair movement
Usually strongly lateralised to the left	Present in both hemispheres

Speech production involves physical movements, but Broca’s area should not be described simply as the area that moves the mouth.

Its role concerns the production and organisation of speech.

Wernicke’s area

Wernicke’s area is located in the temporal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere.

It is primarily associated with language comprehension.

It allows spoken and written language to be understood.

Damage to Wernicke’s area can produce Wernicke’s aphasia.

Wernicke’s aphasia

A person with damage to Wernicke’s area may:

• Produce fluent speech.

• Speak with normal rhythm and pace.

• Use words that do not form meaningful statements.

• Produce invented or inappropriate words.

• Have serious difficulty understanding language.

• Be less aware that their speech lacks meaning.

The speech may sound grammatically fluent while communicating little meaningful content.

The main examination distinction is:

Wernicke’s area is associated mainly with understanding language.

Wernicke’s area and the auditory centre

Wernicke’s area and the auditory centre are both located in the temporal lobe, but they perform different functions.

Wernicke’s area	Auditory centre
Supports language comprehension	Processes sounds generally
Concerned with the meaning of language	Concerned with auditory information
Damage may impair understanding	Damage may impair general sound processing
Usually strongly associated with the left hemisphere	Present in both hemispheres

A person may hear a spoken sentence but fail to understand its meaning if language-comprehension systems are damaged.

Hearing a sound and understanding language are therefore not identical processes.

Comparing Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas

Feature	Broca’s area	Wernicke’s area
Main location	Left frontal lobe	Left temporal lobe
Main function	Speech production	Language comprehension
Typical speech after damage	Slow, effortful and non-fluent	Fluent but lacking meaningful content
Comprehension after damage	Often relatively better than production	Often seriously impaired
Type of aphasia	Broca’s aphasia	Wernicke’s aphasia

A useful memory rule is:

• Broca’s area produces speech.

• Wernicke’s area understands words.

Producing and understanding language

Language normally involves cooperation between several processes.

Consider answering a spoken question:

1. The auditory centre processes the sound.

2. Wernicke’s area contributes to understanding the language.

3. Other cognitive processes contribute to forming a response.

4. Broca’s area contributes to producing speech.

5. Motor systems control the muscles used to speak.

This demonstrates an important point:

Localisation does not mean that complex behaviour is produced by one isolated area acting alone.

Different specialised regions may work together as a network.

Applying Broca’s area

Consider the following scenario:

After damage to the left frontal lobe, Simone understands what other people say but produces slow, effortful speech containing only a few words.

This pattern is consistent with damage to Broca’s area because:

• Broca’s area is located in the left frontal lobe.

• It is associated with speech production.

• Damage may result in non-fluent and effortful language.

• Relatively preserved comprehension distinguishes the difficulty from Wernicke’s aphasia.

Applying Wernicke’s area

Consider another scenario:

Following damage to the left temporal lobe, Tariq speaks fluently, but his sentences make little sense. He also struggles to understand questions.

This pattern is consistent with damage to Wernicke’s area because:

• Wernicke’s area is located in the left temporal lobe.

• It is associated with language comprehension.

• Damage may produce fluent but meaningless speech.

• Understanding spoken language is seriously impaired.

A method for identifying the language area

Ask two questions.

Is the main problem producing fluent speech?

This suggests Broca’s area.

Look for:

• Slow speech.

• Effortful speech.

• Short or incomplete sentences.

• Better understanding than production.

Is the main problem understanding language?

This suggests Wernicke’s area.

Look for:

• Fluent speech.

• Speech lacking meaning.

• Poor language comprehension.

• Limited awareness of errors.

Evidence supporting localisation

Different forms of evidence may support localisation.

Brain scanning

Researchers can observe which areas show increased activity during particular tasks.

For example:

• Movement tasks may be associated with the motor centre.

• Visual tasks may be associated with the occipital lobe.

• Language tasks may be associated with language areas.

The strengths and limitations of this evidence are covered in BOLD activity and spatial resolution..

Electrical recording

EEGs and ERPs can identify when brain activity changes during sensory or cognitive processing.

They provide weaker information about precise location but can be combined with other methods.

Post-mortem examinations

Researchers can compare behavioural difficulties during life with structural damage found after death.

Naturally occurring brain damage

Changes in behaviour following damage can suggest the functions previously performed by the affected area.

Agreement between different methods strengthens localisation conclusions.

Strength: evidence from brain scanning

Brain-scanning techniques can provide objective biological evidence.

If a particular area repeatedly becomes active during a particular task, this supports the view that the area contributes to the function.

For example:

• Increased activity in the motor centre during voluntary movement.

• Increased activity in the visual centre during visual processing.

• Activity in language centres during language tasks.

fMRI has relatively high spatial resolution, allowing researchers to identify activity within particular brain regions.

However, activity shows an association with the task. It does not necessarily prove that the area causes the function or acts alone.

Strength: evidence from brain damage

Damage to a localised area may produce a specific loss of function.

If:

• One function is impaired.

• Other functions remain relatively intact.

• The damage is concentrated in a particular area.

This supports the idea that the affected function depends on that area.

For example, differences between Broca’s and Wernicke’s aphasia suggest that speech production and language comprehension involve different systems.

However, naturally occurring damage may affect several areas or neural connections.

Strength: practical applications

Understanding localisation can have practical applications.

It may help professionals:

• Predict the likely effects of brain damage.

• Assess which functions may have been affected.

• Plan rehabilitation.

• Avoid important functional areas during medical procedures.

• Understand patterns of recovery.

Localisation therefore contributes to the assessment and treatment of people with brain injuries.

The possibility that other brain areas can support recovery is examined in changes in the brain after experience or damage and reorganisation following brain trauma.

Limitation: complex functions involve networks

Complex behaviour is unlikely to depend on one isolated brain area.

Language, for example, may require:

• Auditory processing.

• Comprehension.

• Memory.

• Attention.

• Speech planning.

• Motor control.

Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas make important contributions, but other areas are also involved.

This suggests that some descriptions of localisation may be too simple.

A more complete explanation recognises both:

• Specialised areas.

• Communication between wider neural networks.

Limitation: individual differences

The precise organisation of functions may vary between individuals.

Differences may result from:

• Development.

• Experience.

• Language use.

• Brain injury.

• Recovery.

• Natural biological variation.

Although language is usually left-lateralised, this pattern is not identical in every person.

A general localisation map may therefore describe a common pattern without representing every brain perfectly.

Limitation: plasticity challenges rigid localisation

Brain plasticity is the brain’s ability to change through experience or following damage.

If one localised area is damaged, another area may sometimes take over part of its function.

This does not show that localisation is entirely incorrect. It suggests that the organisation of functions can be flexible.

The brain may have:

• Specialised areas under ordinary circumstances.

• The capacity to reorganise when circumstances change.

A rigid claim that each function has one fixed and unchangeable location would therefore be too strong.

Limitation: damage may affect connections

A behavioural difficulty following brain injury may not result only from damage to one localised centre.

The injury may also affect:

• Connections between areas.

• Blood supply.

• Surrounding tissue.

• Wider neural networks.

For example, language production could be disrupted because communication between language areas is impaired, even if one area remains relatively intact.

This makes it difficult to draw simple conclusions from naturally occurring damage.

Limitation: activity does not establish causation

A brain scan may show activity in a region while a participant completes a task.

This does not prove that the area:

• Caused the behaviour.

• Was the only area involved.

• Performed the specific process identified by the researcher.

• Would be necessary for every person performing the task.

The activity may be related to another demand, such as attention, movement or decision-making.

Researchers need suitable control conditions and evidence from several methods.

Localisation and hemispheric lateralisation

The concepts are related but not identical.

Localisation of function	Hemispheric lateralisation
Particular brain areas perform particular functions	Some functions are more strongly associated with one hemisphere
Can refer to an area within either hemisphere	Focuses on differences between the left and right hemispheres
Example: the visual centre is in the occipital lobe	Example: language is usually left-lateralised
Concerns specific regions	Concerns hemispheric specialisation

Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas illustrate both concepts because:

• They are localised language areas.

• They are usually found in the left hemisphere.

Localised but interconnected

A balanced understanding of the brain includes two principles:

1. Different areas make specialised contributions.

2. These areas communicate and work together.

The brain is therefore neither:

• Completely undifferentiated, with every area performing every function.

• A collection of independent centres that never interact.

A more accurate model is a network of specialised but interconnected regions.

A method for answering application questions

Use the following steps.

1. Identify the impaired function

Is the problem related to:

• Movement?

• Bodily sensation?

• Vision?

• Hearing?

• Speech production?

• Language comprehension?

2. Identify the relevant centre

Match the function to the localised area.

3. State the location

Name the lobe and hemisphere where appropriate.

4. Use contralateral information carefully

For motor and somatosensory functions, explain why one side of the brain may affect the opposite side of the body.

5. Apply details from the scenario

Use the person’s exact impairment rather than repeating a general definition.

6. Avoid overstating the conclusion

State that the area may be damaged or involved unless the evidence establishes more.

Writing an effective localisation answer

A strong explanation might state:

Localisation of function is the principle that particular areas of the brain perform particular functions. The motor centre in the frontal lobe controls voluntary movement, while the somatosensory centre in the parietal lobe processes bodily sensory information. The visual centre is located in the occipital lobe and the auditory centre is located in the temporal lobe. Broca’s area, usually in the left frontal lobe, is associated with speech production, whereas Wernicke’s area, usually in the left temporal lobe, is associated with language comprehension.

This answer:

• Defines localisation.

• Names each required centre.

• Identifies its location.

• Explains its function.

• Directly distinguishes the two language areas.

What a complete answer needs

For a question on one centre, include:

• Its name.

• Its location.

• Its function.

• A likely effect of damage, where relevant.

For a broader question, organise the answer by function:

Function	Centre
Voluntary movement	Motor centre
Bodily sensory processing	Somatosensory centre
Vision	Visual centre
Hearing	Auditory centre
Speech production	Broca’s area
Language comprehension	Wernicke’s area

Key Words 🔑

Key word	Student-friendly definition	How it may be used in an exam
Localisation of function	The principle that particular brain areas perform particular functions.	Define the topic or explain the effects of localised damage.
Cerebral cortex	The outer layer of the brain containing specialised processing areas.	Identify where the localised centres are situated.
Cerebral hemisphere	One of the two main halves of the brain.	Explain contralateral control or language lateralisation.
Frontal lobe	The front area of the cerebral cortex.	Identify the location of the motor centre and Broca’s area.
Parietal lobe	The upper rear area of the cerebral cortex.	Identify the location of the somatosensory centre.
Occipital lobe	The area at the back of the cerebral cortex.	Identify the location of the visual centre.
Temporal lobe	The area at the side of the cerebral cortex.	Identify the auditory centre and Wernicke’s area.
Motor centre	The frontal-lobe area controlling voluntary movement.	Explain an impairment in movement.
Somatosensory centre	The parietal-lobe area processing bodily sensory information.	Explain an impairment in touch or bodily sensation.
Visual centre	The occipital-lobe area processing visual information.	Explain an impairment in visual processing.
Auditory centre	The temporal-lobe area processing sound.	Explain an impairment in auditory processing.
Broca’s area	A language area, usually in the left frontal lobe, associated with speech production.	Explain slow, effortful or non-fluent speech.
Wernicke’s area	A language area, usually in the left temporal lobe, associated with language comprehension.	Explain fluent but meaningless speech and poor understanding.
Aphasia	An impairment of language caused by brain damage.	Describe the effects of damage to a language area.
Broca’s aphasia	Language impairment involving slow, effortful and non-fluent speech.	Apply damage to Broca’s area.
Wernicke’s aphasia	Language impairment involving poor comprehension and fluent but meaningless speech.	Apply damage to Wernicke’s area.
Contralateral	Relating to the opposite side of the body or visual field.	Explain motor, somatosensory or visual processing.
Hemispheric lateralisation	The principle that some functions are more strongly associated with one hemisphere.	Explain why language is usually linked with the left hemisphere.
Brain plasticity	The brain’s ability to change through experience or after damage.	Evaluate the idea of permanently fixed localisation.

Common Mistakes ⚠️

Mistake: Describing localisation as the idea that every part of the brain performs the same function.

Why this is incorrect:Localisation proposes that particular areas make specialised contributions.

How to improve:Define localisation in terms of specific functions being associated with specific areas.

Mistake: Placing the motor centre in the parietal lobe.

Why this is incorrect:The motor centre is located in the frontal lobe.

How to improve:Remember: frontal lobe controls voluntary movement.

Mistake: Saying that the somatosensory centre controls movement.

Why this is incorrect:The somatosensory centre processes sensory information from the body.

How to improve:Distinguish incoming bodily sensation from outgoing motor instructions.

Mistake: Placing the visual centre near the eyes at the front of the brain.

Why this is incorrect:The visual centre is located in the occipital lobe at the back of the brain.

How to improve:Separate the location of the sensory organ from the location of cortical processing.

Mistake: Saying that the auditory centre is located in the occipital lobe.

Why this is incorrect:The auditory centre is located in the temporal lobe.

How to improve:Remember: temporal lobe processes sound.

Mistake: Assuming left-hemisphere motor damage affects only the left side of the body.

Why this is incorrect:Motor control is generally contralateral.

How to improve:State that left motor-centre damage is likely to affect the right side.

Mistake: Saying Broca’s area controls language comprehension.

Why this is incorrect:Broca’s area is primarily associated with speech production.

How to improve:Remember: Broca produces.

Mistake: Saying Wernicke’s area controls the physical movement of speech.

Why this is incorrect:Wernicke’s area is primarily associated with language comprehension.

How to improve:Remember: Wernicke understands words.

Mistake: Saying a person with Broca’s aphasia cannot understand any language.

Why this is incorrect:Language comprehension may be relatively preserved compared with speech production.

How to improve:Describe the main difficulty as slow, effortful and non-fluent speech.

Mistake: Saying a person with Wernicke’s aphasia cannot speak fluently.

Why this is incorrect:Speech may remain fluent but lack coherent meaning.

How to improve:Separate fluency from meaningful language.

Mistake: Claiming that one brain area produces a complex behaviour independently.

Why this is incorrect:Complex functions usually depend on communication between several specialised areas.

How to improve:Describe the area as contributing to a wider neural network.

Mistake: Treating localisation and lateralisation as identical.

Why this is incorrect:Localisation concerns specific brain areas, while lateralisation concerns differences between hemispheres.

How to improve:Explain that Broca’s area is localised and language is usually left-lateralised.

Exam-Style Questions ✍️

Question 1

Which one of the following is located in the occipital lobe?

A. Motor centre

B. Somatosensory centre

C. Visual centre

D. Auditory centre

[1 mark]

Question 2

Define localisation of function.

[2 marks]

Question 3

Identify the lobe in which each of the following is located:

• Motor centre

• Somatosensory centre

• Visual centre

• Auditory centre

[4 marks]

Question 4

Explain one difference between the motor centre and the somatosensory centre.

[4 marks]

Question 5

Following damage to the left frontal lobe, a patient has difficulty controlling movements on the right side of their body.

Using your knowledge of localisation of function, explain this difficulty.

[4 marks]

Question 6

A patient can hear sounds but has difficulty understanding spoken language. Their speech is fluent but often lacks meaning.

Identify the area that may have been damaged and explain your answer.

[4 marks]

Question 7

A second patient understands what other people say but produces slow, effortful speech consisting of short phrases.

Identify the area that may have been damaged and explain your answer.

[4 marks]

Question 8

Distinguish between the functions of Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area.

[4 marks]

Question 9

Explain why evidence from brain scans may support localisation of function but may not prove that one brain area is solely responsible for a behaviour.

[4 marks]

Question 10

Explain localisation of function in the brain.

Refer to the motor, somatosensory, visual, auditory and language centres in your answer.

[8 marks]