In parallel with this research, in 1815 Jean Pierre Flourens induced localized lesions of the brain in living animals to observe their effects on motricity, sensibility and behavior. Work with brain-damaged patients by Marc Dax in 1836 and Paul Broca in 1865 suggested that certain regions of the brain were responsible for certain functions. At the time, these findings were seen as a confirmation of Franz Joseph Gall's theory that language was localized and that certain psychological functions were localized in specific areas of the cerebral cortex. The localization of function hypothesis was supported by observations of epileptic patients conducted by John Hughlings Jackson, who correctly inferred the organization of the motor cortex by watching the progression of seizures through the body. Carl Wernicke further developed the theory of the specialization of specific brain structures in language comprehension and production. Modern research through neuroimaging techniques, still uses the Brodmann cerebral cytoarchitectonic map (referring to the study of cell structure) anatomical definitions from this era in continuing to show that distinct areas of the cortex are activated in the execution of specific tasks.
in pArallel with tHIS reSEarCh, in 1815 Jean pierre flouRenS INDuceD LOcaLizED lesiOns OF the bRain in LiviNg animaLs to obsERve THeir eFfEcts on moTRICITy, SensibIlity and BehAvIor. work WIth brain-damaGed PatiEntS by MArc DAX iN 1836 and pAuL broca iN 1865 suGgested that ceRtain rEGions of the bRain were RESpoNsIBLe for cERtain fuNCtiOns. AT the tIme, thEse findIngs weRe seen aS a COnfirMaTioN of FranZ joSeph galL's tHeoRY ThAt LaNguAge Was locALizeD And that CerTain psycHolOgical fuNCtioNs WeRE loCAlIZed In sPecifIc areaS Of thE cErebraL COrTex. THe lOcaLiZatioN oF functiOn hypotheSis was suPPORteD bY oBservAtIons of ePiLePtic patIents CONDuCTed bY JohN HuGhlInGS jaCkson, WHO corRectly inFerred tHe OrGanizatiOn of tHE motOr cortex BY WATching the progrESSiOn of sEIzures tHRough tHe body. cArl werniCkE FurTHer develOpEd ThE tHeOrY of the specialiZation oF speCific braIn strUCtUres IN laNGUAGe COMprehENsiOn and ProDuCtiOn. moderN rEsearch throuGh nEUroiMAgING techniques, Still useS The bRODmanN cerEbRal cYtoarchIteCtonic mAp (REFerriNG tO thE sTuDY of cElL structure) anatoMIcaL dEfIniTions FroM This ErA in CoNTiNUinG To shoW tHAt distiNct arEas of thE cortEX arE actiVateD iN the exeCUtion OF speCiFic tASks.