Temporal Lobes

Week 4/Chapter 4: The Temporal Lobes (and memory)

Anatomical considerations:

Temporal lobe is like a peninsula, or the thumb in the hand brain

Lateral portion - outer surface; neocortex = new cortex (thumb nail side)

Mesial portion - inner or middle surface; paleocortex = old cortex (thumb pad side)

Medial temporal lobe - deep structures, not actually 'sub'cortical, because it is like a cortical roll up. Basically, the hippocampus.

7 Functions of the temporal lobes? (see p. 92 for list, and chapter for details)

Heavily involved in memory and perceptual processes.

1. Audition; primary, secondary and tertiary auditory cortical zones in temporal lobe

2. Vision (chap 6 also, Occipital Lobes)

3. Language (chap 7 also)

4. Attention

5. Cross-modal integration

6. Memory - see Memory Max powerpoint at Bb

7. Personality

Cases studies in amnestic disorders involving temporal lobes. The "Hollywood Amnesia" syndrome is usually unrealistic.