Temporal Lobe

"If the human brain were so simple that we could understand it, we would be so simple that we couldn't." - Emerson M. Pugh

Location

The temporal lobe is the bottom section of the brain where the lateral fissure separates it from the frontal lobe. Reference the image below to understand the location.

By Anatomography - en:Anatomography (setting page of this image), CC BY-SA 2.1 jp, Link

Functions

The temporal lobe includes the primary auditory cortex wich is located on the top edge of each temporal lobe. This is the area for auditory association where sounds are interpreted and language is hear. The hippocampus is also part of the temporal lobe and brings a large focus on memory, but also learning and emotions, to the functions of the temporal lobe. Because of this, the temporal lobe is associated with the formation of memories. Yet another part of the temporal lobe is Wernicke’s area which concerns speaking and understanding speech. The tempral lobe also plays a huge part in processing sensory information which is important for hearing, recognising language and forming memories (all of which are of concern to the temporal lobe). Some areas of this lobe can even make sense of visual information, including faces and scenes. (Visual information tends to be the job of the occipital lobe.)

Interesting Facts

Damage to the temporal lobe could lead to:

1. memory problems


2. speech perception problems


3. language skill problems