What is the function of the parietal lobe?
The parietal lobes (both right and left) handle cortical sensation, motor control, and visual perception.
The dominant parietal lobe also handles ideomotor praxis.
The nondominant parietal lobe controls spatial orientation.
Key Functions of the Parietal Lobe:
- Sensory Perception and Integration:
- Processes somatosensory information such as touch, pressure, temperature, pain, and proprioception (body position awareness).
- Houses the primary somatosensory cortex (postcentral gyrus), which maps sensory input from different parts of the body.
- Spatial Awareness and Orientation:
- Assists in understanding spatial relationships, navigation, and body positioning.
- Integrates visual and sensory input to construct a sense of the surrounding environment.
- Coordination of Movement:
- Plays a role in guiding motor actions based on sensory input.
- Assists in fine motor coordination and the perception of movement.
- Mathematical and Logical Processing:
- Involved in numerical reasoning and performing arithmetic calculations.
- Engages in problem-solving and abstract thinking related to spatial and logical tasks.
- Language and Communication:
- The dominant hemisphere (usually the left) contributes to language comprehension (e.g., reading and writing).
- The non-dominant hemisphere aids in understanding tone, intonation, and contextual nuances of speech.
- Integration of Multisensory Information:
- Combines visual, auditory, and tactile information to create a cohesive perception of the environment.
- Important for recognizing objects by touch (stereognosis).
- Attention and Awareness:
- Regulates attention and focus, particularly on spatial tasks.
- The non-dominant parietal lobe plays a key role in awareness of the contralateral side of the body and space (neglect syndromes occur when damaged).
