Parietal lobe

The parietal lobe or parietal lobe (Latin parietal lobe ) is a section of the cerebrum.

Anatomy

The front boundary of the parietal lobe is formed by the central sulcus ( sulcus centralis ). Its posterior border of the occipital lobe extending an imaginary line from the parieto-occipital sulcus in the direction notch praeoccipitalis. Its lower ( ventral ) border to the temporal lobe is located at the level of the lateral sulcus ( Sylvian fissure ).

The parietal lobe contains two other important anatomical structures: the sulcus postcentral, which runs parallel to the central sulcus and the anterior parietal lobe limited. Postcentralis often connected to the sulcus we find the intraparietal sulcus, which divides the posterior parietal cortex itself ( parietal cortex, posterior) into an upper ( superior parietal lobule ) and lower ( inferior parietal lobule ) Parietalläppchen.

Functions

Generally, the parietal lobe plays an important role in the integration of sensory information. It contains the Brodmann areas 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 39, 40 and 43

The front area is involved in somatosensory functions. The upper area is involved in the visual control of movement and recognition of stimuli in the viewer -related space and thus allows spatial attention, the change from one stimulus to the next. The lower section is responsible for spatial thinking and " quasi- spatial " processes such as arithmetic and reading.

As another separate function center, the intraparietal sulcus can view, is what both rhesus monkeys and humans of multiple functional areas, which as an interface between the sensory systems (especially the visual system ) and the motor system for the calculation, execution function and control of hand and eye movements. The exact number of these areas and their function are currently the subject of current brain research (brain mapping).

Clinical Significance

The parietal lobe is relevant for the following neuropsychological disorders:

• Gerstmann 's syndrome
• Bálint 's syndrome