frontal lobe

Examples of frontal lobe in the following topics:

• Cerebral Lobes

  • The cortex is divided into four main lobes: frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal.
  • The frontal lobe contains most of the dopamine-sensitive neurons in the cerebral cortex.
  • The frontal lobe is considered to contribute to our most human qualities.
  • The frontal lobes are the most uniquely human of all the brain structures.
  • The parietal lobe is a part of the brain positioned above (superior to) the occipital lobe and behind (posterior to) the frontal lobe.

• Cerebral Hemispheres and Lobes of the Brain

  • The brain is separated into four lobes: the frontal, temporal, occipital, and parietal lobes.
  • The frontal lobe is associated with executive functions and motor performance.
  • The frontal lobe is considered to be the moral center of the brain because it is responsible for advanced decision-making processes.
  • Clockwise from left: The frontal lobe is in blue at the front, the parietal lobe in yellow at the top, the occipital lobe in red at the back, and the temporal lobe in green on the bottom.
  • The Broca's area is at the back of the frontal lobe, and the Wernicke's area is roughly where the temporal lobe and parietal lobe meet.

• Brain: Cerebral Cortex and Brain Lobes

  • The cerebral cortex of the brain is divided into four lobes responsible for distinct functions: frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital.
  • The frontal lobe is located at the front of the brain, over the eyes.
  • The frontal lobe also contains the motor cortex, which is important for planning and implementing movement.
  • Neurons in the frontal lobe also control cognitive functions such as maintaining attention, speech, and decision-making.
  • The human cerebral cortex includes the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes, each of which is involved in a different higher function.

• Cerebral Cortex

  • The cortex is divided into four different lobes (the parietal, occipital, temporal, and frontal lobes), each with a different specific function.
  • One notable sulcus is the central sulcus, or the wrinkle dividing the parietal lobe from the frontal lobe.
  • A diagram of the brain identifying the different lobes by color.
  • Counterclockwise from bottom: It contains the parietal lobe (green), the occipital lobe (red), the temporal lobe (yellow), and the frontal lobe (blue).

• Overview of the Cerebrum

  • Each hemisphere of the mammalian cerebral cortex can be broken down into four functionally and spatially defined lobes: frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital.
  • The frontal lobe is located at the front of the brain, over the eyes, and contains the  olfactory bulb.
  • The frontal lobe also contains the motor cortex, which is important for planning and implementing movement.
  • These functions originate within the primary motor cortex and other frontal lobe motor areas where actions are planned.
  • Motor portions of language are attributed to Broca's area within the frontal lobe.

• Executive Function and Control

  • This system is thought to rely on the prefrontal areas of the frontal lobe, but while these areas are necessary for executive function, they are not solely sufficient.
  • Historically, the executive functions have been thought to be regulated by the prefrontal regions of the frontal lobes, but this is a matter of ongoing debate.
  • The most likely explanation is that while the frontal lobes participate in all executive functions, other brain regions are necessary.
  • The major frontal structures involved in executive function are:
  • Executive-function development corresponds to the development of the growing brain; as the processing capacity of the frontal lobes (and other interconnected regions) increases, the core executive functions emerge.

• Neural Correlates of Memory Storage

  • Activity in different lobes of the cerebral cortex have been linked to the formation of memories.
  • The temporal and occipital lobes are associated with sensation and are thus involved in sensory memory.
  • Short-term memory is supported by brief patterns of neural communication that are dependent on regions of the prefrontal cortex, frontal lobe, and parietal lobe.
  • The processes of consolidating and storing long-term memories have been particularly associated with the prefrontal cortex, cerebrum, frontal lobe, and medial temporal lobe.
  • The temporal lobe is important for sensory memory, while the frontal lobe is associated with both short- and long-term memory.

• The Brain

  • Most of the expansion comes from the cerebral cortex, especially the frontal lobes, which are associated with executive functions such as self-control, planning, reasoning, and abstract thought.
  • Anatomists conventionally divide each hemisphere into four lobes: the frontal (control of specialized motor control, learning, planning, and speech), parietal (control of somatic sensory functions), occipital (control of vision), and temporal lobes (control of hearing and some speech).
  • The division into lobes does not actually arise from the structure of the cortex itself.
  • The only exception is the border between the frontal and parietal lobes, which is shifted backward from the corresponding suture to the central sulcus.
  • Demonstration of brain regions, including the four lobes and internal structures.

• Cranial Bones

  • The neurocranium is comprised of eight bones: occipital, two temporal bones, two parietal bones, sphenoid, ethmoid, and the frontal bone.
  • The temporal bones are situated at the base and sides of the skull, lateral to the temporal lobes of the brain.
  • The greater wings form the floor of the middle cranial fossa that houses the frontal lobes and pituitary gland, and also the posterior wall of the orbit.
  • Inside the neurocranium it articulates with the frontal and sphenoid bones.
  • The frontal bone forms the front of the skull and is divided into three parts:

• Foramina

  • The skull bones that contain foramina include the frontal, ethmoid, sphenoid, maxilla, palatine, temporal, and occipital lobes.
  • Supraorbital foramen: Located in the frontal bone, it allows passage of the supraorbital vein, artery, and nerve into the orbit.