Localization of function

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The idea that specific brain areas carry out specific jobs or behaviours.

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Damage to a part of the brain — often used as evidence for what that area does.

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If damage to a specific area is followed by the loss of a specific ability, that area was probably needed for it.

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A scan can show which area becomes active during a task, pointing to where the job is done.

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Producing fluent speech; damage can leave a person unable to speak fluently while still understanding others.

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Causality — damage-then-loss suggests an area is needed for an ability, but activity alone is not proof of cause.

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Brain damage and imaging give clear, testable links between an area and a function.

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Many behaviours use several areas together, so functions are often shared, not fixed to one spot.

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Because other areas can sometimes take over a job, so a function is not permanently fixed to one area.

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They are often one patient, so the finding may not generalise to everyone.

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E.g. occipital lobe — vision; motor cortex — movement; amygdala — emotion/fear.

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No — it shows the area is active and likely involved, not that it alone causes the behaviour.