The brain is made up of a series of lobes in each of its hemispheres. The parietal lobe is one of the six main lobes that we have in our brain and has several very specific functions that are basic for the functioning of our body.
This lobe is located near the brain, behind other lobes such as the frontal, occipital and temporal lobes. This part is essential for various mental processes and it is a brain area responsible for perceiving sensations such as cold, pressure, pain or balance coordination.
Principal functions
The functions of this parietal lobe are many and diverse. We are facing one of the most complex and important parts of our brain, and therefore, one of the most valuable parts of our body.
We can say that it is responsible for processing valuable information such as integration and sensory information, the processing of symbolic information and the processing of numerical information, basic to perform mathematical operations.
Symbolic information
Thanks to this parietal lobe, humans have the ability to work with symbols and have a capacity for analysis. In this part of the brain many mental processes come together at the same time, therefore, the brain has the ability to make abstract thinking possible and to know how to analyze symbols.
Lesions in the parietal lobe
Lesions in this part of the brain are usually quite complicated. As we say, it is one of the most complex and important areas of our body, therefore, damaging the parietal lobe could change our life completely.
For example, if we damage the left area of the lobe, Gerstmann’s Syndrome appears very commonly. This syndrome is related to the inability to perform calculations, confusing left and right, or having difficulty writing correctly.
However, if the damage occurs in the right part of the lobe, we will suffer hemineglect. This disease is curious as it makes our brain completely forget its left side. In this case, our body will not respond to stimuli that come from the left side of the body.
Patients suffering from this disease in the right lobe neglect the other part of the body, so they do not wash, comb or care for it, since they are not fully aware of it.
If the injury comes in both lobes, a neurological problem usually appears that will affect our entire perception, motor system and for which there is no cure. This problem is known as Balint Syndrome.
