Frontal lobe

With frontal lobe or frontal lobes ( frontal lobe ) of the brain of mammals the anterior lobe ( Lobi ) are referred to the two approximately mirror- symmetrical halves of the cerebrum (cerebrum or telencephalon ), respectively. The frontal lobe is one of four parts of the neocortex, which assume different tasks. The frontal lobe fulfilled motor functions, it controls and therefore controlled movements. In addition, he is regarded as the seat of personality and social behavior. Since it is considered as " most human part of the brain ", some authors refer to it even as the " organ of civilization."

Anatomy

The frontal lobe fills the anterior cranial fossa. It extends from the anterior Hirnpol to the central sulcus, fissure ( groove ) that separates the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe. The lateral sulcus forms the border to the temporal lobe. Hidden under the frontal lobe is the insular cortex. It is the frontal lobes in a motor and premotor area ( together referred to as the motor cortex) as well as divide a prefrontal area (prefrontal cortex).

For frontal lobes include the precentral gyrus, inferior frontal gyri, the, superior and medius, the frontal operculum, the gyrus rectus and the orbital gyri.

Blood supply

The frontal lobe is supplied by the anterior and middle cerebral artery ( anterior cerebral artery and middle cerebral artery ) with oxygen-rich blood. The anterior cerebral artery located closer to the center of the body ( medial ) part of the frontal lobe and the middle cerebral artery the side ( lateral ) part supplied. The blood outflow occurs primarily via the ascending superficial veins of the brain ( cerebral veins superficial ascendentes ), partly on the average superficial Hirnvene ( vena cerebri media superficialis ). The blood of the ascending veins flows over the superior sagittal sinus into the transverse sinus. The drains of the middle vein both go into the cavernous sinus, and in the transverse sinus. The transverse sinus passes the blood eventually in the internal jugular vein, which leads out of the skull.

Functions

A large portion of the frontal lobe is taken from the motor cortex, which controls movements. A distinction is made the primary motor cortex, the premotor cortex and the supplementär - motor cortex of the motor cortex. In the precentral gyrus, ie the gyrus at the furrow, which marks the border with the parietal lobe, the primary motor cortex is located. It controls the execution of movement, while the premotor cortex selects the necessary movements. The prefrontal cortex regulates the cognitive processes so that situation-specific actions can be performed. The motor cortex is the origin of the pyramidal tract.

Effects of frontal lobe damage

The consequences of damage to the frontal lobe are summarized as frontal lobe syndrome. This is characterized in humans by

• Insufficient consideration of consequences,
• Difficulties in the planning of actions,
• Adherence to ( irrelevant ) details ( perseveration )
• Lack of coordination on the current requirements,
• Insufficient rule compliance and rule violations (including social behavior)
• Decreased self-control and increased impulsivity
• Drive faults,
• Disorders of (short-term ) memory and the working memory,
• Disorders of attention and intellectual assets through Old.
• The intelligence is preserved, but reasoning and classification performances are bad;
• Also are often reduced spontaneous behavior, creativity ( " Divergent thinking " ) and word fluency.