Cerebral Structure

The brain is a complex system that involves many different layers of understanding. However, general cerebral structures can be broken down into manageable parts by starting with the front of brain and working backwards and down to the top of the spinal column.

Frontal Lobe

• Imagine that the front of the brain lies directly behind the forehead. This is the starting place for understanding the general cerebral structure. Underneath the forehead is the frontal lobe, which is responsible for executive functioning. The executive functioning system includes verbal and visual attention, working memory, mental flexibility and general cognitive organization. For instance, people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often have dysfunctional executive functioning systems.

Parietal and Temporal Lobes

• Moving directly back from the frontal lobes, approximately at the ear level of the head, the parietal lobe resides. The parietal lobe can be found underneath the ear and up to the top of the head. The parietal lobe is responsible for spatial skills, as well as some aspects of how sensation is perceived and organized. The parietal lobe is also near motor strips in the brain that help plan and initiate movement. Directly beneath the parietal lobe lies the temporal lobe. The main function of the temporal lobe is visual and verbal memory.

Occipital Lobe and Cerebellum

• Moving to the very back of the head, the occipital lobe comes into view. The occipital lobe is responsible for processing and organizing visual information. Injuries to the occipital lobe can lead to visual field cuts, or the inability to process portions of the information coming in through the eyes. Directly below the occipital lobe lies the cerebellum. The cerebellum helps to maintain body balance and proprioception, which is the ability to understand where the body is located in space. People suffering from disorders involving movement disturbance such as multiple sclerosis often have lesions in the cerebellum.