Parahippocampal gyrus

The term parahippocampal gyrus or parahippocampal gyrus refers to a region of the brain. This consists of gray matter of the cerebral cortex and is assigned a part of the limbic system. This area plays an important role in the recognition and recall, his involvement in the context of hippocampal sclerosis ( often structural findings in temporal lobe ) could be demonstrated.

Assignment

The parahippocampal gyrus is located in the temporal lobe medially. His rear portion together with the fusiform gyrus parahippocampal cortex to. A part of the rear portion of the parahippocampal gyrus is also referred to as the " parahippocampal place area (PPA ) ."

Function

Optical recognition

A portion of the parahippocampal gyrus, called the parahippocampal place area appears to be involved, for example, in the recognition of buildings. This region of the brain has been particularly active in fMRI studies when subjects topographical views or images of landscapes, cities or areas were shown. This region was (currently at the University of Pennsylvania) first described by Russell Epstein and Nancy Kanwisher 1998.

Damage to the parahippocampal place area ( for example following a stroke ) can cause the affected landscapes or other locations may not assign, although they recognize individual areas ( for example, objects or people ).

Associative function

It is assumed that the function of the parahippocampal gyrus goes beyond the purely visual recognition. There is evidence that this region of the brain is involved in the recognition of both the social interaction and verbal communication content.

Further illustrations

Medial surface of the left brain ( parahippocampal gyrus orange).

Frontal section

Medial view ( parahippocampal gyrus labeled " 5")

Basal view of the human brain