Theona, a 62-year-old woman, suffered a stroke in the front portion of her right hemisphere. As a result, she experienced difficulty moving her left leg (illustrating contralateral control and motor center location in the frontal lobe) and a loss of impulse control, judgment, and reasoning (demonstrating prefrontal cortex function).

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Strokes, which result from an interruption of blood flow to a part of the brain, cause a localized loss of brain function. By studying the specific behavioral changes or deficits that follow a localized stroke, researchers are able to link those functional impairments directly to the damaged region, thereby identifying the normal role of that specific brain area.

Using Strokes to Study Brain Area Functions

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

The case of Theona, a 62-year-old woman, illustrates the effects of a stroke on the right frontal lobe. The damage resulted in both motor and behavioral deficits. She experienced difficulty moving her left leg, demonstrating the right hemisphere's control over the body's left side. Additionally, damage to her prefrontal cortex led to a loss of impulse control, evidenced by behavioral changes like eating unpaid items in a store, which highlights the prefrontal cortex's role in judgment and reasoning.

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