parietalloben

The parietalloben, commonly known in English as the parietal lobe, is one of the four major lobes of the cerebral cortex. It lies behind the frontal lobe, above the occipital and temporal lobes, and is bounded by the central sulcus anteriorly, the parieto-occipital sulcus posteriorly, and the Sylvian fissure laterally. The primary somatosensory cortex is located in the postcentral gyrus, while the superior parietal lobule and the inferior parietal lobule—comprising the supramarginal and angular gyri—form key association areas.

Functions of the parietal lobe include processing somatosensory information (touch, temperature, pain, proprioception) and integrating multisensory input to support spatial awareness, body schema, and attention. The superior parietal lobule contributes to spatial orientation and the planning of actions, whereas the inferior parietal lobule participates in language, calculation, and higher-level object recognition. The parietal lobe also supports visuomotor integration through the dorsal visual pathway, translating perception into coordinated movement.

Connectivity and clinical relevance: The parietal lobe communicates with the frontal lobe (including prefrontal and premotor regions) and with occipital and temporal areas, enabling higher cognitive and motor functions. Lesions can cause contralateral sensory loss, apraxia, and hemispatial neglect, particularly after right‑hemisphere damage. In the dominant hemisphere, inferior parietal damage can produce Gerstmann syndrome (finger agnosia, acalculia, agraphia, left-right disorientation). Bilateral damage may lead to Balint syndrome, characterized by optic ataxia, simultagnosia, and oculomotor apraxia.