What Are the Functions of the Four Cerebral Cortex Lobes?

The cerebral cortex is only 4 millimeters thick---1/8 inch---yet it makes up 75 percent of the entire brain. The cortex is large due to the convolutions, or folds. The cortex is divided into four lobes: frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital.

Frontal Lobe

• Critical thinking areas in the frontal lobe warn of dangers.

  The frontal lobe covers approximately the front half of the brain. It is controls voluntary muscle movements of each body part. It also coordinates these muscle movements for skilled activities. Motor speech, behavior and critical thinking are centered in the frontal lobe.

Parietal Lobe

• Sensory perception allows people to feel and recognize textures.

  The parietal lobe lies behind the frontal lobe. The parietal cerebral cortex contains the areas of sensory perception for the skin and muscles, primary taste and general interpretation.

Temporal Lobe

• The experience of music requires hearing and intrepretation of sound.

  The temporal lobe lies below the parietal and behind the frontal lobes. The temporal lobe is responsible for hearing, sound interpretation and the sense of smell.

Occipital Lobe

• Vision centers allow for sight and recognition.

  The occipital lobe covers the back of the brain like a cap. It is the smallest of the four lobes and is responsible for vision and visual association.