Temporal lobes

Temporal lobes are one of the four main lobes or regions of the cerebral cortex in the brain of mammals. They are located on the sides of the brain, beneath the lateral or Sylvian fissure. Seen in profile, the human brain looks something like a pair of boxing gloves. The temporal lobes are where the thumbs would be.

The temporal lobes are involved in several functions of the body including auditory perception, semantic and episodic memory processing, and object recognition. Damage to the temporal lobes can result in a variety of disorders including auditory agnosia, amusia, and aphasia.

Anatomy

The temporal lobes are divided into several gyri or convolutions, separated by sulci. The superior temporal gyrus includes an area (within the Sylvian fissure) where auditory signals from the ear first reach the cerebral cortex. This part of the cortex, and adjacent areas, are often referred to as the primary auditory cortex. The superior temporal gyrus also includes the Wernicke's area, which (in most people) is located in the left hemisphere. It is the major area involved in the comprehension of language.

The inferior temporal gyrus and the fusiform gyrus are involved in high-level visual processing and are included in the ventral stream of visual processing. They are involved in the recognition of complex object features, such as faces.

Function

The temporal lobes are involved in several tasks of cognition including auditory perception, memory, and speech. The primary auditory cortex is responsible for the perception of sound, and aspects of music and speech. The medial part of the temporal lobes (the medial temporal lobes) are involved in the formation of long-term memory, and are involved in particular in the declarative (or explicit) memory, which consists of data that can be consciously recalled, such as facts or events.

Clinical significance

Damage to the temporal lobes can result in a variety of disorders including auditory agnosia (inability to recognize sounds), amusia (inability to produce or comprehend music), and aphasia (inability to understand or produce speech). Temporal lobe epilepsy is a common form of epilepsy, and often leads to the surgical removal of the hippocampus, which is located in the medial temporal lobe.

Temporal lobes Resources
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