How Are Parts Of The Brain Related To Brain Function?

Scientists Have Found… That the basic anatomical components of brain function are related to brain size and shape. This presentation will help you understand how different regions of the brain are related to different functions

This Power Point Presentation Will Explain: How the lobes of the brain function What each lobe is responsible for

This Presentation May Be Better Understood If you have already viewed some of the other and more basic presentations. You will understand this presentation better if you have already seen other presentations on this site.

The Brain Is Composed Of Two Hemispheres The brain is divided into two sections or hemispheres. The left side of the brain is responsible for verbal tasks and the right for spatial tasks. The left hemisphere is noticeably larger than the right.

The Brain Is Divided Into Lobes Additionally the brain is divided into lobes. On this slide you will notice that the lobes are different colors.

Frontal Lobes Begin To Mature When A Person Is Four , Peak In Growth At Age 11 And Continue To Age 45. Frontal Lobe The Frontal lobe (forehead) is responsible for emotions, judgment, and planning. This lobe is the last to mature (which explains why children do not plan very effectively). Each lobe has a different function. The Frontal lobe is considered the executive of the brain.

In This Slide, The Frontal Lobe Is Pink. You can see the Frontal Lobe in this slide. It is large and located in the lower part of the forehead.

The Temporal Lobes Temporal lobes are responsible for timing, attention, memory, and expressive and receptive speech. Temporal lobes are thought to mature at about 7 years of age. At the sides of the head are the temples which is where the temporal lobes are located. There are two lobes so if we are speaking of both temple lobes we would say the bitemporal areas. (WAIT) Notice the connection between the words temple and time and the function of these lobes.

Temporal Lobes Are Light Pink In This Slide. The temple lobes are clearly marked on these slides Temporal Lobes

Parietal Lobes At the sides of the head are the Parietal Lobes. Parietal means side. If we are speaking of both parietal lobes we are talking about the biparietal area of the cerebral cortex. In the beginning of the presentation we noted that the left side of the brain has to do with verbal tasks and the right side spatial. The parietal lobes are divided in the same way.

Parietal Lobes The Parietal lobes are responsible for spatial functions. The left Parietal lobe is responsible for spatial language (on, over, on top of, before). The right Parietal lobe is responsible for spatial functions. (How big is the room you are in?)

The Parietal Lobes are Blue-Gray on this slide. Occipital Lobe The Parietal lobes are located behind and above the temporal lobe. The parietal lobes mature at about age 5 years. Primarily Visual Area Primarily Auditory Area

What Tasks Engage Our Parietals? Timed tasks Spatial relationship tasks The concept of time (how much space do you have for lunch?) is a parietal function.

Spatial Relationship Tasks Are Age Dependent Spatial relationships cannot be taught until about 5 years of age. Young children cannot understand spatial concepts regardless of intellect.

Since Young Children Do Not Understand Spatial Relationships… They do not understand conservation, a concept discussed by Piaget.

Conservation Is The Ability To Understand That While These Glasses Are Equal In Height, They Hold Different Amounts Of Liquid.

To a young child these glasses are equal even though they hold different amounts. Young children measure amount by only one criteria. So to them the glasses are equal in height.

Prepositions Express Spatial Relationships The books are on the shelf. The snake is In the book. The books are under the people. Spatial relationships tell us where something is. The book is on top of the boy. The books are in the basket. The apple is on top of the book.

Even the ability to read a clock is a spatial task. Young children cannot read a clock nor do they have a perception of time.

These Skills Are Dependent On Organic Maturity… They cannot be mastered by young children, even those who are highly intelligent, since children do not have the organic maturity to support this understanding. Just as a young child can’t walk at the age of 6 months, they also do not have the capacity to understand spatial relationships until about age 5.

The Last Cortical Region We Will Examine is the Occipital Lobe

The Occipital Lobe Located in the back of the head is primarily responsible for sight.

The Occipital Lobe Is Gray On This Slide You can see where the lobe is located on this site.

Sometimes Cortical Lobes Work In Concert… Difficulty with estimation can implicate either or both the Parietal or Frontal regions. For example, estimating depends on both the Parietal and Frontal lobes. That’s because estimating uses both spatial reasoning and judgment

The Brain Functions As A Unit One cortical region will often compensate for another region which is not functioning optimally. Sometimes one region will need the assistance of another Each lobe of the brain works like a team member in an attempt to get to a specific goal.

More Information About the Brain and Learning Is Available On Other Presentations

Licensed Psychologist LaSalle College High School The David Program Jo Ann Curcio Cohen, Ph.D. Licensed Psychologist Learning Specialist LaSalle College High School