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What Is The Theory Of Localization Of Function

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The brain is the most important organ in our bodies, other than the heart and the liver. It controls what we see, touch, taste, hear, and smell. However, many scientist have wondered, how the brain does this and how it operates. This discussion has led to the development of the theory the localization within in the brain. Today this theory has been debated whether the brain actually does localize its functions or not. One theory states the brain localizes its functions in two hemispheres. The functions are either in the right side of the brain or the left side. The other theory is known as the theory of distributed functions, which states the brain functions are distributed throughout the brain.
What is the theory localization of function? …show more content…

To put it simply, Localization is understanding what parts of brain work and why do they do this. The theory states there are 10 parts of the brain, each of them has an effect that controls the brain. (Parts listed in figure one) According the theory, each of these parts control a specific function, like an engine to a car or a motherboard to a computer. For example, the one part of the brain known as the temporal lobe controls and processes information gained from the eyes. This is how we are able to see and visualize our surroundings. Also, the theory states that the brain is divided into two parts, each part has certain behaviors that more prominent on each side of the brain. In contrast to the theory of localization, is theory of distributed functions. This theory states that the functions in the brain are distributed throughout the brain with no regard to which hemisphere it is in. One famous study of localization was made back in 1868 on an injured railroad worker, named Phineas Gage, by Dr. John Harlow. Gage was involved in an accident in 1841 when a tampering bar was impaled through his head. Surprisingly he was not killed by the accident, he was even speaking a few minutes after the incident (injury seen in figure two) .

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