PSYCH 130 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5.3: Prefrontal Cortex, Neuroplasticity, Handedness
25 Nov 2017
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The two hemispheres differ in their function. Each hemisphere receives sensory info from the side of the body opposite to it and controls only that side. Left hemisphere: verbal abilities and positive emotion. Left hemisphere: better at processing info in a sequential, analytic way. Right hemisphere: process info in a holistic, integrative manner, ideal for making sense of spatial info and regulating negative info. A highly plastic cerebral cortex in which many areas are not yet committed to specific functions, has a high capacity for learning. If a part is damaged, other parts can take over tasks it would"ve handled. Once hemispheres are lateralized, damage to specific region means that abilities it controls cannot be recovered to the same extent. Substantial plasticity in young brains, esp infants. Overabundance of synaptic connections ensure children will acquire certain capacities even if some areas are damaged. Brain can reorganize at older ages but adult brain produces few new neurons.
