The 5 lobes of the brain and their different functions

The different parts of the brain perform certain executive functions. Which ones?

It is very common to believe that human thoughts, feelings and emotions have their origin in two parts of the brain that work together: the cerebral hemispheres, two halves practically identical to each other that are distinguished by the processes carried out in them.

This idea, although partly true, provides a very simple explanation of how we functionThis is because within each hemisphere we can find an almost infinite number of organic structures in charge of performing different tasks and functions that influence our behavior.

In this article you can find a general explanation about some of the most important parts of our "thinking machine": the lobes of the brain and their functions.

Basics about the lobes of the brain.

Anatomically, it is very easy to recognize the division that exists between the two hemispheres of the brain, because viewed from above a noticeable space keeps them apart. This is the interhemispheric fissure, which is something like a rectilinear crack that separates the upper and more superficial parts of the brain and delimits where one cerebral hemisphere begins and the other ends.

However, beyond this obvious sign thanks to which we can get a very superficial idea of the anatomy of the brain, if what we want to examine is the structure of each of these elements, things get more complicated.

Each hemisphere is covered by a layer called the cerebral cortex. (which is the most visible part of the brain and appears to be full of wrinkles and furrows), and this cortex can be divided into different parcels according to their different functions and locations. This classification into distinct areas within each of the cerebral hemispheres shows us the existence of several lobes of the brain. Let's see what they are like.

Lobes of the brain and their functions

What we know as lobes of the brain consists of a classification by parcels of the cerebral cortex that allows us to map the main areas of nervous activity. These areas are not radically separated from each other, but they are relatively easy to distinguish from each other if we look at the folds and the different fissures of the brain.

These plots are the lobes of the brain, and you can read about their most basic aspects below.The brain hemisphere, taking into account that each cerebral hemisphere has the same number, types and distribution of lobes.

1. Frontal lobe

Marked in blue in the image.

In humans, it is the largest lobes of the brain. It is characterized by its role in the processing of high-level cognitive functions such as planning, coordinating, executing and controlling behavior. By extension, it also enables goal setting, foresight, language articulation and emotion regulation.

In addition, the frontal lobe gives rise to the ability to be mindful of others (as it counteracts the influence of impulses to satisfy our immediate desires in favor of long-term goals) and to establish theory of mind, which is our ability to infer things about the mental state of others. For example, the fact of being aware that we know something that someone else does not, is possible thanks to the theory of mind.

In short, this is one of the cerebral lobes with a more prominent role in the functions that we would relate more directly to intelligence, planning and coordination of complex voluntary movement sequences. This part of the cortex is characteristic of vertebrate animals and is especially large in mammals since this evolutionary group contains the most intelligent species on the planet.

• More about this lobe in the following post: "What is the frontal lobe and how does it work?"

2. Parietal lobe

Marked in yellow in the image.

It is located between the frontal and occipital lobes, and is mainly in charge of processing sensory information coming from all parts of the body.It is also able to control movements thanks to its proximity to the frontal lobe planning centers, such as touch, temperature sensation, Pain and pressure, and is able to relate this information to number recognition. It also makes movement control possible due to its proximity to the frontal lobe planning centers.

In addition, it receives visual information from the occipital lobe and works by creating associations between this type of data and other inputs from other areas.

3. Occipital lobe

Marked in pink in the image. In humans, it is the smallest of the four main lobes of the brain and is located at the back of the skull, near the nape of the neck.

It is the first area of the neocortex to receive visual information. visual information reaches. Therefore, it plays a crucial role in the recognition of objects whose light is projected onto the retina, although it does not have the capacity to create coherent images by itself. These images are created from the processing of this data in areas of the brain called visual association areas.

The occipital lobe sends information about vision to other brain lobes through two different communication channels.

• The first channel, which goes to the frontal area of the brain via the ventral area (i.e., the area furthest from the top of the head), processes information about the "what" of what is seen, i.e., the content of the vision.

• The second channel, which goes to the front through the dorsal area (near the crown of the head), processes the "how" and "where" of what is seen, i.e., aspects of movement and location in a broader context.

4. Temporal lobe

Marked in green in the image.

The temporal lobes of each hemisphere are located at the sides of the brain, arranged horizontally and attached to the temples.

They receive information from many other areas and lobes of the brain and their functions have to do with memory and pattern recognition in data coming from the senses. Thus, it plays a role in the recognition of faces and voices, but also in the recall of words. also in remembering words..

Insula

The insula is a part of the cortex that is hidden between the rest of the lobes of the brain and, to see it, it is necessary to move the temporal and parietal lobes away from each other. That is why it is often not considered as another lobe.

It is attached to structures responsible for the emergence of emotions, as it is emotions, as it is closely connected to many areas of the limbic system, and is probably responsible for mediating between these and the cognitive processes that take place in the rest of the lobes of the brain.

Bibliographical references:

• Colledge, Nicki R.; Walker, Brian R.; Ralston, Stuart H.; Ralston, eds. (2010). Davidson's Principles and Practice of Medicine (21st ed.). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier. ISBN 978-0-7020-3085-7.
• Stuss, D.T. & Knight, R.T. (2013), Principles of Frontal Lobe Function. Nueva York: Oxford University Press.
• Hall, John (2011). Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology (12th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Saunders/Elsevier. ISBN 978-1-4160-4574-8.
• Netter, F. (2014). Atlas of Human Anatomy Including Student Consult Interactive Ancillaries and Guides (6th ed.). Philadelphia, Penn.: W B Saunders Co.
• Van Essen, DC (January 23, 1997). "A tension-based theory of morphogenesis and compact wiring in the central nervous system". Nature.