Year 12s: what will be the first way you research your future options? >>

A stroke has caused damage to certain areas of the brain.

catherine1989

A stroke has caused damage to certain areas of the brain. Upon examination, a doctor notices that the person has difficulty understanding speech and the left side of the body is paralyzed. Identify the specific areas of the brain that are damaged, and explain how this damage might cause problems.

This confuses me as the wernicke and broca areas of the brain that are responsible for speech is on the left side but it says the left side of the patients body is paralyzed. Isnt the left side of the body controlled by the right side of the brain?!

Reply 1

kiss_me_now9

Subbing cos I kinda understand it but can't articulate it :colondollar:

Reply 2

Joinedup

isn't it the dominant hemisphere, which is the right in ~1/30 people?

(not a doctor)

Reply 3

BigWilfo

Its the right CEREBRUM that controls the left of the brain. It is seperate parts of the brain that controls movement and speech, so the right of the cerebrum would be damaged along with the wernicke and broca areas

Reply 4

nexttime

Original post by Joinedup

isn't it the dominant hemisphere, which is the right in ~1/30 people?

(not a doctor)

Probably the most likely explanation, yes. (Interestingly, up to a third of left-handers are thought to be 'right-dominant'). Right middle cerebral artery occlusion, causing damage to the motor cortex and (probably) medial temporal lobe.

If this was a real patient, you would want to investigate this 'lack of understanding' more though. Is it an expressive aphasia or receptive (or both)? Or is it just deafness? Or confusion?