Lobes of the brain

Brain lobes were originally a purely anatomical classification, but have been shown also to be related to different brain functions. The telencephalon (cerebrum), the largest portion of the human brain, is divided into lobes, but so is the cerebellum. If not specified, the expression "lobes of the brain" refers to the telencephalon.

There are four uncontested lobes of the telencephalon (see individual articles for more information):

  1. Frontal lobe—conscious thought; damage can result in mood changes, social differences, etc. The frontal lobes are the most uniquely human of all the brain structures.
  2. Parietal lobe—plays important roles in integrating sensory information from various senses, and in the manipulation of objects; portions of the parietal lobe are involved with visuospatial processing
  3. Occipital lobe—sense of sight; lesions can produce hallucinations
  4. Temporal lobe—senses of smell and sound, as well as processing of complex stimuli like faces and scenes.

Gallery

References

Goldberg, E. (2001). The executive brain: frontal lobes and the civilized mind. Oxford University Press.

See also