Lobes & Hemispheres

Cerebral Hemispheres

Hemispheres on the left and right sides of the brain that are divided by a deep groove that runs from the front to the back of the brain (called the longitudinal fissure). They function contralaterally.

Corpus callosum

A mass of nerve fibres that physically connects the two hemispheres and helps transmit information between the hemispheres.

Left hemisphere characteristics

- Dominant in verbal and analytical abilities

- Receives information from the right side of the body and controls movement on the right side

- Processes information from the right visual field

Right hemisphere characteristics

- Dominant in visual and spatial abilities

- Receives information from the left side of the body and controls movement on the left side

- Processes information from the left visual field

Frontal lobe location

Upper front of each hemisphere

Frontal lobe function

Responsible for  motor functioning, higher cognitive skills (reasoning, planning, etc.) and executive functioning

Frontal lobe damage

Difficulty with organisation, memory loss, speech difficulties, loss of motor skills

Prefrontal cortex

Responsible for more advanced functions and executive functions.

- Personality
- Intelligence
- Social skills
- Memory
- Works with other brain structures to generate emotions

Primary motor cortex

Responsible for controlling voluntary movements (walking, talking, dancing, etc.) Different parts of the body are represented in different locations and sizes on the motor cortex, the size based on the “fineness” of the movements.

Broca’s area

Responsible for the production of speech. Coordinates muscles of the larynx, cheeks, lips, jaw and tongue.

Parietal lobe location

Behind the frontal lobes

Parietal lobe function

Responsible for receiving and processing bodily information (touch, temperature, etc.) and information from other brain structures. Is also responsible for spatial awareness.

Parietal lobe damage

Can cause loss of sensation in a particular area, and loss of awareness of the surrounding environment. Can also cause spatial neglect.

Primary somatosensory cortex

Registers and processes sensations detected by sensory receptors in the body. Different parts of the body are represented in different locations and sizes on the cortex, the size based on the sensitivity of the body parts.

Temporal lobe location

Each side of the brain

Temporal lobe function

Processes auditory information, integrates with information from other senses

Left temporal lobe

Processes verbal sounds associated with language

Right temporal lobe

Processes non verbal sounds

Temporal lobe damage

Loss in memory for verbal (left) and non verbal (right), inability to recognise faces

Wernickes area

Responsible for understanding language

Occipital lobe location

Back of the brain

Occipital lobe function

Integrates information from the primary visual cortex to other brain lobes

Occipital lobe damage

Visual impairment and can experience blind spots