The Parietal Lobe: Your Brain's Sensory Command Center

The Parietal Lobe

The parietal lobe is a part of your brain located at the top back of your head. Remember how we talked about the functions of the temporal lobe? The parietal lobe sits above the temporal lobe and is actively communicating with this lobe in many of its functions. It also takes information from the Frontal and Occipital Lobes. It's like a busy control center that helps you understand the world around you.

Sensing Your Body

Touch: Your parietal lobe is like a super-sensitive skin that covers your whole body. It helps you feel things like when something is too hot, too cold, or if something is poking you. For example, if you touch a hot stove, your parietal lobe helps you feel the burning sensation.

Body Position: The parietal lobe is like your body's personal assistant. It helps you feel things. It also helps you know where your body parts are, even when you can't see them. For example, you can touch your nose with your eyes closed because your parietal lobe knows where your nose and fingers are.

Making Sense of Space

Spatial Awareness: Imagine trying to find your way around a new city without a map. Your parietal lobe is like your brain's built-in GPS. It helps you understand where things are in relation to each other. For example, when you reach for a cup of coffee, your parietal lobe helps you know where the cup is and how to grab it.

Visual Attention: It helps you focus on what you're looking at and ignore distractions. For instance, when you're reading a book, your parietal lobe helps you focus on the words and not the noises around you.

Math and Language

Math Skills: Believe it or not, your parietal lobe also helps with math. It helps you understand numbers and how they relate to each other. When you add or subtract, or even when you count objects, your parietal lobe is hard at work. While not its primary job, the parietal lobe also helps with math problems, especially those involving numbers and space.

Language: It plays a role in understanding language, particularly the meaning of words related to space or location. For example, making sense of words like "above", "below", or "behind."

Motor Control

The parietal lobe contributes to planning of motor movement and also creating movement patterns. For example, when we want to hold a cup, we first extend the arm and hand and then curl the fingers, not the other way round. This is possible, in part because of the parietal lobe.

In the upcoming articles we will discuss the possible conditions that can show parietal lobe dysfunction.