temporal lobe

(noun)

A region of the cerebral cortex that is located behind the temples and beneath the Sylvian fissure on both cerebral hemispheres of the human brain. This region is involved in auditory perception, speech and vision processing, and the formation of long-term memory as it houses the hippocampus.

Related Terms

Examples of temporal lobe in the following topics:

  • Cerebral Lobes

    • The cortex is divided into four main lobes: frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal.
    • The frontal lobe is an area in the mammalian brain located at the front of each cerebral hemisphere and positioned anterior to (in front of) the parietal lobe and superior and anterior to the temporal lobes.
    • The temporal lobe is involved in primary auditory perception such as hearing and holds the primary auditory cortex.
    • The superior temporal gyrus includes an area where auditory signals from the ear first reach the cerebral cortex and are processed by the primary auditory cortex in the left temporal lobe.
    • Distinguish between the frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes of the cerebral cortex

  • The Brain

    • Anatomists conventionally divide each hemisphere into four lobes: the frontal (control of specialized motor control, learning, planning, and speech), parietal (control of somatic sensory functions), occipital (control of vision), and temporal lobes (control of hearing and some speech).
    • The division into lobes does not actually arise from the structure of the cortex itself.
    • Found deep in the temporal lobe, the seahorse-shaped hippocampus is responsible for memory.
    • The amygdala is a small, almond-shaped structure deep inside the anteroinferior region of the temporal lobe.
    • Demonstration of brain regions, including the four lobes and internal structures.

  • Sensory Areas

    • The olfactory cortex is located in the uncus, found along the ventral surface of the temporal lobe.
    • The visual area is located on the calcarine sulcus deep within the inside folds of the occipital lobe.
    • The primary auditory cortex is located on the transverse gyri that lie on the back of the superior temporal convolution of the temporal lobes.

  • Overview of the Cerebrum

    • Each hemisphere of the mammalian cerebral cortex can be broken down into four functionally and spatially defined lobes: frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital.
    • The temporal lobe is located at the base of the brain by the ears.
    • The occipital lobe is located at the back of the brain.
    • Motor portions of language are attributed to Broca's area within the frontal lobe.
    • Speech comprehension is attributed to Wernicke's area, at the temporal-parietal lobe junction.

  • Cranial Bones

    • The temporal bones are situated at the base and sides of the skull, lateral to the temporal lobes of the brain.
    • The squamosal suture separates the parietal bone and squama portion of temporal bone.
    • The sphenosquamosal suture separates the sphenoid bone and squama portion of temporal bone.
    • Finally, the squamosal suture separates the parietal and temporal bones.
    • The greater wings form the floor of the middle cranial fossa that houses the frontal lobes and pituitary gland, and also the posterior wall of the orbit.

  • Aging and the Nervous System

    • As the disorder progresses, cognitive (intellectual) impairment extends to the domains of language (aphasia), skilled movements (apraxia), recognition (agnosia), and those functions (such as decision-making and planning) closely related to the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain as they become disconnected from the limbic system, reflecting extension of the underlying pathological process.

  • Foramina

    • The skull bones that contain foramina include the frontal, ethmoid, sphenoid, maxilla, palatine, temporal, and occipital lobes.

  • Aphasia

    • In contrast to expressive aphasia, damage to the temporal lobe may result in a fluent aphasia that is called receptive aphasia (also known as sensory aphasia and Wernicke's aphasia).

  • Association Areas

    • The parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes, all located in the posterior part of the cortex, organize sensory information into a coherent perceptual model of our environment centered on our body image.
    • The frontal lobe or prefrontal association complex is involved in planning actions and movement, as well as abstract thought.
    • The processes of language expression and reception occur in areas other than just the perisylvian structures such as the prefrontal lobe, basal ganglia, cerebellum, pons, caudate nucleus, and others.
    • For example, a patient with a lesion in the parietal-temporal-occipital association area has an agraphia, which means he is unable to write although he has no deficits in motor skills.

  • Lobes, Fissures, and Lobules

    • The lungs are located on either side of the heart and are separated by fissures into lobes, three in the right and two lobes in the left.
    • The right lung is divided into three lobes.
    • The upper lobe is the largest lobe of the right lung.
    • The middle lobe is the smallest lobe of the right lung, located between the horizontal and oblique fissures.
    • The lower lobe is the bottom lobe of the right lung.