Temporal Lobe In The Brain example essay topic

Occipital, Frontal, and Temporal Lobes The occipital lobes are the center of our visual perception system. They are not particularly vulnerable to injury because of their location at the back of the brain, although any significant trauma to the brain could produce subtle changes to our visual-perceptual system, such as visual field defects and sco tomas. The Peri striate region of the occipital lobe is involved in processing, discrimination of movement and color discrimination (Westmoreland et al., 1994). Damage to one side of the occipital lobe causes homonymous loss of vision with exactly the same 'field cut' in both eyes. Disorders of the occipital lobe can cause visual hallucinations and illusions.

Visual hallucinations (visual images with no external stimuli) can be caused by lesions to the occipital region or temporal lobe seizures. Visual illusions (distorted perceptions) can take the form of objects appearing larger or smaller than they actually are, objects lacking color or objects having abnormal coloring. Lesions in the parietal-temporal-occipital association area can cause word blindness with writing impairments (alexia and agraphia) (Kandel, Schwartz & Jes sell, 1991). Frontal Lobe The Frontal Lobe is responsible for cognition and memory. The prefrontal area gives one the ability to concentrate, judgment and inhibition as well as personality and emotional traits. The pre motor area is responsible for storage of voluntary activities and motor patterns.

The motor area provides voluntary motor activity. Language is a motor speech. Temporal Lobe Location of the temporal lobe is near the temples just above the ear canal. Functions of the temporal lobe are to: Control hearing; from birth a baby can hear completely. The temporal lobe in the brain is fully developed before the baby is born. Language use; talking is very closely linked to hearing, and since people can hear they react by using language as means of communication.

Emotions, especially fear plays a part in this role. Some complex aspects of vision, including the ability to see patterns such as faces. When the temporal lobe is damaged it causes: . Deficits or limitations in understanding and comprehending spoken words. May cause a lack of fear if the emotional responses are no longer working (a person seeing a snake may not be afraid because they don't understand what the object even is). Tumors can cause visual hallucinations 1.

The Temporal Lobe. (2003, November 14). Sonic Net [online]. Available: http: // / sonic. net/~jane / temporal. htm 2.

Brain Development: Temporal Lobe. (2003, November 16). Baby Center. Com [online] Available: web - (so-to " ma) An island-like blind gap in the visual field. Homonymous - homonymous hemianopsia Total loss of vision due to complete cuts of the optic tract, lateral geniculate body or area 17 of the occipital lobe Alexia - Inability to read. Agraphia - Decline or loss of the ability to write.