What Is the Frontal Lobe?

The brain is divided into four sections called lobes. The frontal lobe is one of the four sections of the brain. The other sections include the parietal lobe, occipital lobe and temporal lobe. Each of these lobes function in a specific way; the frontal lobe is specifically associated with how we reason and plan, our parts of speech, the way we move, our emotions, and how we solve problems.

Planning

• The frontal lobe plays a role in how we plan. Planning activities is one of the main functions of the frontal lobe. It allows us to plan for our usual daily activities such as giving the dog a bath, planning a meal, fixing a car or organizing an event.

Organizing

• The frontal lobe plays a role in how we organize our actions. In other words, the frontal lobe is responsible for the order in which we do things. The frontal lobe allows us to sequence and organize while performing activities. For example, the reason that we know that we should turn off the water after we shower has to do with the functions of the frontal lobe.

Speech and Language Production

• The frontal lobe plays a role in the speech and language area of the brain. It is where the Broca area is located, which contains motor neurons involved in the control of speech. The frontal lobe also allows you to comprehend language and to use words correctly so they make sense in order to communicate successfully. People who have damage in the frontal lobe may find it difficult to speak.

Movement

• The frontal lobe plays a role in our movements. It not only helps us to move our arms, legs, hands, head and feet, but helps us to control our facial expressions as well. The frontal lobe is also believed to aid in spatial orientation, which means helping us with our sense of direction while moving around our environment.

Emotions

• The frontal lobe plays a role in controlling emotions such as hunger, aggression and sexual drive. The frontal lobe controls emotions by telling us that we should eat when we are hungry, drink when we are thirsty, cry when we are sad, and laugh when we are happy, for example. The frontal lobe turns our emotions on or off by telling us what we should or should not do when appropriate. Additionally, the frontal lobe is part of the brain that is affected by Alzheimer's disease, depression and mania.

Problem Solving

• The frontal lobe plays a role in how we solve problems. The frontal lobe helps us to find solutions to problems such as solving mathematical equations. Additionally, it helps us to choose the correct strategy to solve different kinds of problems based on insight, an understanding of principles, reasoning, logic and creative thinking.