Lecture Notes: The Frontal Lobe

Introduction

• Dr. Mike introduces the focus: The Frontal Lobe
• Overview of brain lobes:
  • Frontal Lobe
  • Parietal Lobe
  • Occipital Lobe
  • Temporal Lobe
  • Insula (underneath)

Anatomical Divisions

• Sulcus: A dip in the brain structure
• Gyrus: A bump in the brain structure
• Central Sulcus:
  • Separates the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe
  • Located centrally in the brain
• Lateral Sulcus (Sylvian Fissure):
  • Separates the frontal lobe from the temporal lobe
• Importance of writing down anatomical landmarks

Functional Divisions

• The Frontal Lobe is referred to as the Action Lobe
  • Responsible for motor movements, speech, emotional behavior
• Central Sulcus:
  • Precentral Gyrus: Site of the Primary Motor Cortex
• Primary Motor Cortex:
  • Initiates voluntary movement
  • Contains a map of skeletal muscles, known as the Motor Homunculus
  • Muscles like the hand and face have larger dedicated areas due to fine motor skills

Motor Association Cortex

• Located anterior to the primary motor cortex
• Includes:
  • Pre-motor Cortex
  • Supplementary Motor Cortex
• Functions:
  • Plans and sequences motor activities
  • Hand skills: Writing, playing piano
  • Broca’s Area: Language production (speech)
    • Damage results in Broca’s Aphasia (inability to produce words)
• Frontal Eye Field:
  • Responsible for tracking objects and rapid eye movements

Prefrontal Cortex

• Makes up most of the frontal lobe
• Involved in:
  • Cognition, behavior, emotion
  • Social appropriateness and decision making
  • Processing language and understanding context
• Phineas Gage case study: Damage to prefrontal cortex leads to changes in behavior and emotions

Summary

• The Frontal Lobe: The "Action Lobe"
• Clearly divided anatomically and functionally
• Responsible for a range of complex behaviors and motor functions