Cognitive Psychology: Connecting Mind, Research and Everyday Experience (MindTap Course List)
Cognitive Psychology: Connecting Mind, Research and Everyday Experience (MindTap Course List)
4th Edition
ISBN: 9781285763880
Author: E. Bruce Goldstein
Publisher: Cengage Learning
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Chapter 2.2, Problem 1TY
Summary Introduction

Introduction

The concept that certain parts of the brain are linked to certain functions and reflects the idea that behavior, thoughts, and emotions originate in definite locations is called the localization of function.

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The theory of localization of function is a controversial topic as cognitive functions are thought to be associated with many parts of the brain. Neuropsychology is the field of study in which the behavior of people is observed to study the ones who have experienced some damage to the brain.

Neuropsychology describes localization as a brain working with its functional areas that control aspects of the environment as well as the division of brain into different lobes, which are related with dissimilar functions. Therefore, localizing functions of the brain to its specific parts offers a biological basis for many behaviors that might not be strictly partitioned. For example, according to neuropsychology, a single region of the brain cannot process complex mental and emotional processes. However, they tend to provide an explanation as to how a particular region of the brain is specialized to serve a particular cognitive function.

Another way to validate a function's localization is by recording from individual nerve cells. For instance, Doris Tsao, along with her colleagues, discovered that almost 97 percent of the nerve cells, in a small region, in the lower part of the temporal lobe in a monkey's brain responded to images of faces as opposed to pictures of other objects. Thus, one's perception regarding faces is linked to a particular area in the brain.

Double dissociation, however, refers to two distinct mental processes that function independently of each other. Therefore, damage in one part of the brain would not affect the functions controlled by another part of the brain, which can be demonstrated through double dissociation.

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