What is the difference between localisation and lateralisation in the brain?

Localisation of function in the brain is the theory that different areas of the brain control specific physical/behavioural functions in the body. The brain is divided into four lobes: the temporal lobe, occipital lobe, parietal lobe and frontal lobe. As an example, there is evidence to suggest that the occipital lobe is implicated in visual functions (seeing) - whereas, there is evidence that the parietal lobe is implicated in auditory functions (speaking and hearing).
In contrast, lateralisation is the theory that different hemispheres of the brain control specific physical/behavioural functions in the body. The brain is split in half down the middle, and each side is known as a hemisphere - the two hemispheres are connected by the corpus callosum. Research has suggested that the left hemisphere largely controls speech and language, whereas the right hemisphere is more dominant in visual and motor functions.

Answered by Bethany R. Psychology tutor

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