Temporal Lobe

General Information

The brain is a complex structure that has many parts. Of course, this is to be expected, especially since it is the coordinator of the body. The main parts of the brain are the cerebrum, cerebellum and the medulla. There are other structures that are not as prominent as the three mentioned above.

The cerebrum, which is the largest brain structure, has four lobes that are very important to our existence as humans. The frontal, parietal, occipital and temporal lobes all have different functions and damage to any or all could be fatal to the individual. Other structures that will be discussed are the medulla and the pons. More information on the temporal lobe can be found as you scroll through this page. 

Temporal Lobe

The temporal lobe (in yellow) is located below that of the parietal lobe, and is on both sides of the hemispheres. It interacts with the amygdala and hippocampus, two structures in the limbic system, to form conscious memories. The temporal lobe consists of different structures that perform different functions. Some of those functions are:

  • Sensory processing 
  • Auditory perception 
  • Language and speech production
  • Language and speech comprehension
  • Memory storage
Structures of the Temporal Lobe

Some important structures in the temporal lobe are:

  • Wernicke’s Area – This is the part of the brain associated with understanding speech and language.
  • Broca’s Area –  This is the part of the brain that aids in the production of speech.
  • Amygdala – The amygdala is involved in memory and emotion processing.
  • Hippocampus –  The hippocampus works with the amygdala to help form memories. It also helps to connect senses and emotions. The hippocampus is responsible for the “fight or flight” response.
What Happens if the Temporal Lobe is Damaged?

With the knowledge that the temporal lobe consists of structures that mainly deal with speech, language and emotions, these functions could be affected when there is damage to the temporal lobe. Some possible signs of damage are:

  • Problems with memory 
  • Difficulty understanding language 
  • Difficulty controlling emotions 
  • Memory loss

Mental Health Temporal Lobe Quiz

Find out how much you’ve learned through our resources by taking our short quiz! It covers everything about the temporal lobe of the brain.

1 / 6

Important parts of the temporal lobe are:

2 / 6

The postcentral gyrus is part of the temporal lobe.

3 / 6

The hippocampus is a part of the temporal lobe.

4 / 6

Wernicke’s Area plays a role in:

5 / 6

Damage to the tepmoral lobe can lead to:

6 / 6

Functions of the temporal lobe are:

Your score is

0%

Brain by OpenClipart-Vectors, via Pixabay
Sources:

Bailey, Regina. “Temporal Lobes in the Cerebral Cortex and Their Function.” ThoughtCo, 11 Nov. 2019, www.thoughtco.com/temporal-lobes-anatomy-373228.

*The information presented on this website is intended to provide a summary of information already available to the general public. If you have medical questions and/or concerns, please contact a medical professional.