Understanding Brain Damage Locations
Published: 14 June 2023
Published: 14 June 2023
The average human brain weighs about 1.3 to 1.4 kg and accounts for approximately 2% of our overall body weight (Cherry 2022).
Our brain is who we are. It is the one thing that makes us unique.
When damage occurs to the brain, changes consequently occur to the person. These changes vary considerably and may include alterations to the person’s speech, mobility, memory and even personality (Synapse 2021).
Brain injuries can be acquired in a variety of ways, including:
(Synapse 2021)
The symptoms displayed as a result of brain injury are dependent on where the brain was damaged and the extent of the damage (Synapse 2021).
This article will outline the effects of damage to different areas of the brain.
The frontal lobe is considered the ‘control panel’ of our personality and communication (Healthline 2021).
The frontal lobe is involved in concentration, memory, judgment, problem-solving, emotional expression and motor function, including motor control of speech. It is also important to note that this is where Broca’s area for language production is located (Healthline 2021).
Damage to the frontal lobe can result in:
(Queensland Health 2022a)
The parietal lobe assists in the coordination, processing and interpretation of sensory information, in addition to the construction of a spatial coordinate system (Queensland Health 2022b).
Damage to the parietal lobe can result in:
(Queensland Health 2022b)
The occipital lobe is primarily responsible for visual processing and perception and receives visual data from the retina. It is the smallest lobe in the brain (SpinalCord.com 2020a).
Damage to the occipital lobe can result in:
(Queensland Health 2022c)
The temporal lobe processes auditory information, encodes memories and is an interpretive area for the integration of visual, auditory and somatic information (Queensland Health 2022d).
It also contains Wernicke’s area, which facilitates the understanding and processing of speech and language (Spinalcord.com 2020b).
Damage to the temporal lobe can result in:
(Queensland Health 2022d; Spinalcord.com 2020b)
The thalamus receives sensory information from all of the sensory systems (except smell) and passes it on to the relevant primary cortical area. Additionally, it helps regulate levels of alertness and consciousness. Damage to the thalamus can result in a permanent coma (Boundless.com 2022).
The hypothalamus has many functions, including:
(Boundless.com 2022; Seladi-Schulman 2022)
Dysfunction of the hypothalamus can result in:
(Seladi-Schulman 2022)
The pons, midbrain and medulla oblongata make up the brain stem, which controls essential life functions such as respiration, heart rate, blood pressure and sleeping (Basinger & Hogg 2022).
The brain stem is also associated with other functions such as:
(Physiopedia 2021)
The pons bridges different parts of the nervous system together and regulates respiration. Many important nerves originate in the pons (Healthline 2018).
Damage to the pons can result in:
(Bailey 2023)
The midbrain is associated with auditory and visual processing and motor movements, particularly of the eyes (Encyclopedia Britannica 2020).
Damage to the midbrain can result in:
(GoodTherapy 2015)
The medulla oblongata connects the brain to the spinal cord, with most sensory and motor fibres either crossing into the brain or finishing at this level (Yetman 2021).
Damage to the medulla oblongata can result in:
(Yetman 2021)
The cerebellum is responsible for the coordination of movement and controls balance, posture, and muscle tone (Queensland Health 2022e).
Damage to the cerebellum can result in:
(Queensland Health 2022e)
Every individual’s brain is different, meaning damage to one area of the brain will show certain symptoms in one person but may affect someone else in a different way.
It’s also important to note that for some brain injuries, secondary injuries will also occur as well as a result of the swelling and homeostatic response to the initial injury (Synapse 2021).
Caring for someone following a brain injury will be dependent on the injury and subsequent deficits, and often involves rehabilitation from a multidisciplinary team.
Question 1 of 3
Which part of the brain controls functions such as respiration, heart rate and blood pressure?