The human body has a wide diversity of organs that are vital for people, each of them has specific functions. If something is not working well in any of these organs, this can lead to complications.
Although we know that the brain is the place where a large number of internal processes occur that allow us to develop our lives without thinking or reflecting on how this happens, the truth is that it does not happen by magic. There is a region located in the brain that is very important for the development of the vital functions of the human being: we are talking about the parietal lobe. In this Psychology-Online article, we will provide you with information about parietal lobe: function, parts, characteristics and lesions.
What is the parietal lobe
The parietal lobe is a part of the cerebral cortex who is in charge of the integration of various stimuli that come from different regions. In other words, the parietal lobe unifies information from different sources, which is why it is essential for vital functions to develop correctly.
This part is located in the center of the brain and is close to the occipital lobe, temporal lobe, and frontal lobe.
Function of the parietal lobe
What does the parietal lobe do? In general terms, the main function of the parietal lobe is sensory data integration, which corresponds to the union of information coming from both inside and outside the organism.
On the one hand, the neurons that allow the processing of symbolic information are located here: words, gestures, phrases, among others. This fact is related to the channels that the human being has.
On the other hand, the parietal lobe is responsible for translating data that originates in the human body. As an example, we can mention that body movements, touch or vision, among others, can be understood thanks to the work of the parietal lobe. In other words, the parietal lobe has the quality of unify information originated in different sectors of the human body.
Parts of the parietal lobe
The parietal lobe is divided into five parts, each one with different qualities that respond to its functioning. Below we explain each of them:
- Primary somatosensory cortex: is responsible for receiving data associated with the face and the opposite side of the body. In other words, the left part of the parietal lobe is connected to the information that comes from the right sector of the right hemisphere of the body.
- Secondary somatosensory cortex: is the sector that translates electrical neural signals throughout the body.
- Association area: This part studies and relates movements with images, spatial dimensions and memory.
- inferior parietal: linked to the interrelation of sounds.
- intraparietal sulcus: this sector intervenes in the processes of .
Characteristics of the parietal lobe
As we have already mentioned previously, the parietal lobe intervenes in certain complex processes that develop in humans. In this section, we will highlight the main characteristics that emerge:
- Impact on memory: The ability to store information can be achieved through the mediation of the parietal lobe. This occurs because there are neural components that act within the hippocampus of the brain, which help make it possible to retain data.
- Emotional regulation: The state of mind, although it is mainly conditioned by the experiences that the person has lived, is contemplated given the intervention of the parietal lobe. In turn, the integration of sensory data is related to the way they are assimilated.
Lesions in the parietal lobe
We can define three types of possible injuries that can occur in the parietal lobe. Although their severity is directly linked to the consequences produced, there are general criteria to identify lesions of the parietal lobe:
- Right parietal lobe: The alterations produced here may account for difficulties in maintaining attention to stimuli located on the left side of the body. An example of this problem is contralateral negligence.
- Left parietal lobe: Injuries to this area interfere with the performance of the right side of the body. As an example, we can mention Gerstmann syndrome given the difficulty in carrying out motor and intellectual activities.
- Both lobes: Damage to the right and left lobe can cause deficiencies in both of the body. As a result, difficulties appear that correspond to sensitivity, touch, temporality and spatial location, among others.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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Bibliography
- Stelzer, F., Cervigni, M.A., Martino, P. (2010). Neural bases of the development of executive functions during childhood and adolescence. A review. Chilean Journal of Neuropsychology, 5 (3), 176-184.
- Tornese, E., Mazzoglio and Nabar, MJ, Doglotti, C.G. (2015). Structural and functional correlates of the parietal lobe in women with Alzheimer’s dementia by magnetic resonance and single photon emission tomography. Argentine Anatomy Magazine, 6 (3), 128-147.