Question
Which of the following brain areas is incorrectly matched with its primary function?
| A. |
Broca’s area – Motor speech
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| B. |
Wernicke’s area – Sensory speech
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| C. |
Prefrontal cortex – Executive function
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| D. |
Occipital lobe – Memory
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Show Answer
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Correct Answer � D
Explanation
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The occipital lobe is primarily responsible for visual processing.
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It includes the primary visual cortex (area 17) and visual association areas (areas 18 and 19).
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Memory, especially long-term declarative memory, is primarily associated with the hippocampus (in the medial temporal lobe) and prefrontal cortex.
Explanation of Other Options:
A. Broca’s area – Motor speech
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Located in the inferior frontal gyrus (usually left hemisphere, areas 44 and 45).
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Responsible for the motor production of speech.
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Lesions cause Broca’s (expressive) aphasia – effortful, non-fluent speech with relatively preserved comprehension.
B. Wernicke’s area – Sensory speech
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Located in the posterior part of the superior temporal gyrus (area 22).
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Responsible for language comprehension.
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Lesions cause Wernicke’s (receptive) aphasia – fluent but meaningless speech and poor comprehension.
C. Prefrontal cortex – Executive function
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This area is critical for planning, decision-making, social behavior, personality, and working memory.
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Damage can lead to personality changes, poor judgment, and disinhibition.
