Robert, a brilliant computer analyst, suffered a blow to his anterior skull from a falling rock while mountain climbing. Shortly thereafter, it was obvious to his coworkers that his behavior had undergone a dramatic change. Although previously a smart dresser, he was now unkempt. One morning, he was observed defecating into the wastebasket. Which region of Robert's brain was affected by the cranial blow?

Video transcript

Hello, everyone and welcome to today's video. So the prefrontal cortex of the brain performs certain complex functions, which of the following statements describes the effect of damage to this area. To remember that we are looking for the statement that describes the effects of damage to the prefrontal cortex. Let's begin by taking a look at answer choice eight inability to perceive sensory information such as such as touch, taste and smell. This is actually not going to be done by the prefrontal cortex. This is going to be done by the primary sensory areas of the brain. Now, these sensory areas are going to include some amount of sensory complex that toy cortex, et cetera, but they're not going to be including the prefrontal cortex. So we're going to cancel it out. Then we have B which is changes in language abilities, intelligence and memory. The patient speaks words that aren't even present in the dictionary. Well, this is actually going to be a result to damage to Vernis area, language production, intelligence and selection and proper words for speech are functions of Nike's area and therefore not a part of the prefrontal cortex. So we're going to cancel this out. Then we have c difficulty in speech. The person can think of words and can write them but is unable to speak. And this is going to be part of the motor cortex or broadcast area damage to this area is going to cause difficulty in speech where the person can think of words but is unable to speak them. This is not going to be happening in the prefrontal cortex. So we're also going to cancel it out. Then we have the which states alterations in decision making, social behavior, personality and self-awareness. Now this is going to be happening in the prefrontal cortex. Remember from previous videos that the prefrontal cortex plays a crucial role in various high level cognitive functions. And these are going to include decision making, personal personality, self awareness and social behaviors, which are the cognitive functions that we are being stated in answer choice. D therefore answer choice D alterations in decision making, social behavior, personality and self awareness. It is going to be the final answer to your question. I really hope this video helped you and I hope to see you on the next one.