What Are the Functions of Cerebral Lateralization & Lobes?

The human brain is composed of many parts, including the cerebrum. The cerebrum manages motor and sensory functions and is responsible for cognition and behavior. The cerebrum consists of two hemispheres divided by the longitudinal fissure. The two hemispheres communicate via the corpus callosum but are responsible for different functions. The cerebrum is also made up of four lobes (or five; some include a "central" lobe). While functions overlap throughout the brain, different lobes have distinguishing functions.

Cerebral Lateralization

• The cerebrum is divided into two hemispheres.

  The cerebrum is divided down the middle into two halves. Each hemisphere controls the sensory and motor functions of the opposite side of the body. The left hemisphere receives, processes and sends information regarding the right side of the body. This suggests that right-handed people have a dominant left hemisphere. Along with processing sensory and motor information, the hemispheres have very different tasks. The left hemisphere is responsible for mathematical and logical thinking. The right hemisphere, however, dominates music and artistic ability, reading, spatial reasoning and face recognition. Despite their different specialties, the two hemispheres work together during a majority of activities.

The Frontal Lobe

• The front portion of the brain is called the frontal lobe. The frontal lobe is considered the hub for human personality and emotion. The frontal lobe is responsible for thought, problem-solving, memory, judgment, reason, impulse control and manages social and sexual behavior. The frontal lobe also controls word associations. Injury in the frontal lobe can have devastating effects on a person's personality and ability to integrate into society, due to damaged social and sexual behaviors and disturbed impulse control.

The Parietal Lobe

• The parietal lobe is located on the top of the head and extends from the back of the frontal lobe, back toward the occipital lobe. The parietal lobe is home to the somatosensory cortex, which receives and processes sensory information from the body. Damage in this area often impairs the sense or move parts of the body.

The Temporal Lobe

• The two temporal lobes are positioned laterally on the brain, near the ears. This lobe is most known for its crucial role in auditory perception and plays a crucial role in speech and language. The temporal lobe also helps form long-term memories.

The Occipital Lobe

• The occipital lobe is situated at the back of the head. The occipital lobe is the main location for visual perception. Visual information is sent from the eyes, through the optic nerves to the occipital lobe, where it is processed. The occipital lobe detects movement, colors and other visuospatial information. Disorders or damage of the occipital lobe may result in partial or complete blindness, the inability to detect motion, visual illusions or hallucinations.