Cerebral Cortex

The cerebral cortex is the largest part of the brain and is responsible for higher brain functions such as thought, reason and memory. It is a highly organized region that is made up of billions of neurons that are interconnected to form integrated neural networks. The cortex is divided into four primary lobes: the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes, and each lobe has a distinct function. The frontal lobe is responsible for decision making, problem-solving, goal-oriented behavior, motor control, planning, creativity, language, emotion, attention, and self-control. It is considered one of the most important areas for problem-solving and decision-making. Damage to the frontal lobe can cause a person to become impulsive and have difficulty controlling their emotions. The parietal lobe is responsible for processing sensory information, like touch and pain, understanding body position or movement in space, interpreting and manipulating language, and recognizing shapes and objects. Damage to the parietal lobe can cause a person to have difficulties perceiving the world around them. The temporal lobe is responsible for memory storage and recall as well as recognizing facial features and understanding auditory information. Damage to the temporal lobe can cause a person to have impaired memory and difficulty understanding other people’s emotions. The occipital lobe is responsible for processing visual information and storing it so that images can be recalled later. Damage to the occipital lobe can cause a person to have deficits in their vision. The cerebrum, which is composed of the four lobes, works together to produce complex cognitive functions. It is a highly organized, structured network of interconnected neurons capable of generating sophisticated behavior. Damage to any part of the cortex can have significant repercussions on a person’s behavior, cognitive ability, and physical functions.