Parietal lobe

The parietal lobe is one of the four lobes, or sections, of the human brain’s cerebrum. The main task of the parietal lobe is to take in and process sensory information, mainly relating to temperature, pain, pressure, proprioception (body position) and touch discrimination. The lobe interprets this incoming information and prepares it for transfer to other parts of the brain, where it will be used for learning and decision-making processes. In addition, the parietal lobe assists other brain lobes with complex tasks such as memory, spatial and visual perceptions, interpretation of symbols and attention control.

Overview

The human brain may appear to be a solid mass of matter, but it actually contains numerous distinct parts. The outermost layer of the brain, including its distinctive wrinkled surface, is called the cerebrum. The cerebrum is divided into two halves, or hemispheres, which are linked by a bundle of nerves called the corpus callosum. Each hemisphere is further subdivided into sections called lobes. The four cerebral lobes are the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital.

Medical scientists first identified these parts as purely anatomical structures, but ongoing study of the brain has shown that each lobe has a special range of functions that contribute to thought and other abilities and can adapt through brain plasticity. The lobes and other structures of the brain often work together to enable people to perform complex tasks and carry out detailed thinking. In general, the frontal lobe is most active in tasks relating to thinking and voluntary activities. The occipital lobe is mainly related to the ability to see, and the temporal lobe is most closely associated with memory and associations between memory and senses.

The parietal lobe is located near the top back of the brain, behind the frontal lobe, and in front of the occipital lobe. It is separated from the frontal lobe by a groove called the central sulcus. The role of the parietal lobe involves integrating information from the body’s senses as it flows into the brain. For example, the parietal lobe analyzes information about heat and cold, pressure, and pain that various parts of the body may experience.

When sense information enters the brain, much of it heads to the parietal lobe for interpretation. The parietal lobe functions to organize and interpret this information so it can be passed along to other parts of the brain. The findings of the parietal lobe allow the brain to form a more cohesive understanding of the person’s surroundings, thus helping the person determine what is happening and how best to react to it.

In addition, the parietal lobe helps other parts of the brain with tasks relating to visual and spatial perception, memory, and the interpretation of symbols. The right hemisphere of the parietal lobe is mainly involved in the interpretation of visual and spatial information, while the left hemisphere focuses on symbols such as numbers and letters. Generally, the strength of these halves is reflected inversely by the person’s dominant hand. For example, a person whose left-hemisphere parietal lobe is more active will usually be right-handed.

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