Parietal lobe

The Parietal Lobe is one of the four major lobes of the cerebral cortex in the brain of mammals. The parietal lobe is positioned above the occipital lobe and behind the frontal lobe and central sulcus.

Function

The parietal lobe plays a vital role in integrating sensory information from various parts of the body, understanding spatial orientation, recognition and perception of stimuli. The primary sensory areas receive signals from the thalamus about touch, taste, and temperature.

Sensory Input

The parietal lobe is primarily involved in processing sensory information. It receives information from the somatosensory system to create a coherent image of the body's position in space.

Spatial Positioning

The parietal lobe is also responsible for spatial positioning and orientation. It allows an individual to understand where objects are in relation to each other and to oneself.

Structure

The parietal lobe is divided into two functional regions. One involves sensation and perception and the other is concerned with integrating sensory input, primarily with the visual system.

Postcentral Gyrus

The postcentral gyrus of the parietal lobe is the location of the primary somatosensory area, the main sensory receptive area for the sense of touch.

Superior Parietal Lobule

The superior parietal lobule integrates sensory information from the body's opposite side and determines spatial awareness and perception.

Clinical Significance

Damage to the parietal lobe can result in two types of conditions: Gerstmann's syndrome and Balint's syndrome. Gerstmann's syndrome includes symptoms such as agraphia, acalculia, finger agnosia, and right-left disorientation. Balint's syndrome is characterized by the inability to voluntarily control the gaze, inability to integrate components of a visual scene, and the inability to accurately reach for an object with visual guidance.

See Also

• Brain
• Cerebral cortex
• Frontal lobe
• Occipital lobe
• Temporal lobe

References

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  Diagram of the parietal lobe
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  Animation of the parietal lobe