Other Cognitive Functions

• The brain is the command-and-control center of your life. It uses its over 100 billion neurons to perceive and analyze incoming information; decide what, if anything, to do about the information; and then instruct the body to do it.

  The brain is divided into lobes and regions. Each brain lobe is responsible for specific functions, such that impairment in that lobe results in specific problems.

  

  Lobe	Functions	Problems
  Medial Temporal Lobe (hippocampus and entorhinal cortex)	• Short-term memory • Learning	• Short-term memory loss
  Lateral Temporal Lobe	• Hearing/Listening • Reading • Reading social cues • Recognizing objects by    sight • Anger control • Naming things	• Reading problems • Word-finding problems • Trouble reading social cues • Episodic rage • Poor object recognition • Religious or moral    preoccupation
  Parietal Lobe	• Direction sense • Sensory perception • Spatial processing, sees    motion • Visual guidance, such as    to grab objects • Recognize objects by    touch • Ability to know where you    are in space • Know right from left • Reading and creating    maps	• Impaired direction sense • Trouble dressing or putting    objects together • Left-right confusion • Denial of illness • Impaired position sense • Trouble with math or writing • Neglect or unawareness of    what your see • Impaired copying, drawing or    cutting
  Frontal Lobe	• Judgment • Impulse control • Attention span • Organization • Self-monitoring • Problem solving • Critical thinking • Empathy	• Poor judgment • Impulsivity • Short attention • Disorganization • Trouble learning from    experience • Confusion • Poor time management • Repeated mistakes • Lack of empathy
  Occipital Lobe	• Sight • Color perception • Lines • Depth	• Visual problems • Can't see outlines or objects • Visual (simple) hallucination • Visual (simple) illusions • Trouble learning from    experience • Functional blindness • Objects appear larger or    smaller than they are • Colors not recognized