The human brain is magnificent and complex. The brain is made up of many parts, each with a specific and important function. It controls our ability to balance, walk, talk, and eat. It coordinates and regulates our breathing, blood circulation, and heart rate. It is responsible for our ability to speak, to process and remember information, make decisions, and feel emotions. Every brain is unique, ever-changing, and extremely sensitive to its environment.
The brain is divided into functional sections, called lobes:
- Frontal Lobe (shown in orange)
- Temporal Lobe (pink)
- Parietal Lobe (blue)
- Occipital Lobe (green)
- Cerebellum (red)
- Brain Stem (yellow)
Each lobe has an important and specific function, detailed below.
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Frontal Lobes Functions (Orange)
An injury to the frontal lobes may affect an individual’s ability to control emotions, impulses, and behavior or may cause difficulty recalling events or speaking. Brain Stem Functions (Yellow)
The brain stem controls the body’s involuntary functions that are essential for survival, such as breathing and heart rate.
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Temporal Lobes Functions (Pink)
An injury to the temporal lobes may lead individuals to demonstrate difficulty with communication or memory. Parietal Lobes Functions (Blue)
Individuals who have injured their parietal lobes may have trouble with their five primary senses. Cerebellum Functions (Red)
An injury to the cerebellum may affect balance, movement, and coordination. Occipital Lobes Functions (Green)
An injury to one’s occipital lobes may lead to trouble seeing or perceiving the size and shape of objects. |
The functional sections (lobes) of the brain are also categorized by side – the right side and the left side. If you split the brain down the middle into two equally-sized parts, they are not the same and do not carry the same functions. The right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, while the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body. Each side is responsible for different functions, and general patterns of dysfunction may occur depending on the side of the brain sustaining an injury.
The traits of each side are detailed below:
| Left Side Traits | Right Side Traits |
|---|---|
Injuries of the left side of the brain can cause:
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Injuries of the right side of the brain can cause:
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