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The '''temporal lobe''' is part of the [[cerebrum]]. It lies at the side of the [[brain]], beneath the [[Sylvian Fissure|lateral or Sylvian fissure]]. Seen in profile, the [[Human_Brain|human brain]] looks something like a boxing glove. The temporal lobe is where the thumb would be.

Behind (posterior to) the temporal lobe is the [[occipital lobe]], where visual information first reaches the cortex. Above and to the rear is the [[parietal lobe]]. The temporal lobe encloses the [[hippocampus]] and [[amygdala]].

[[image: brainlobes.png|thumb|128px|Lobes of the Human Brain (Temporal Lobe is shown in green)]]

==Function==

The top (superior) part of the temporal lobe includes an area (within the Sylvian fissure) where auditory signals from the [[cochlea]] (relayed via several subcortical nuclei) first reach the [[cerebral cortex]]. This part of the cortex (primary auditory cortex) is involved in hearing. Adjacent areas in the superior, posterior and lateral parts of the temporal lobe are involved in high-level auditory processing. In humans this includes speech, for which the left temporal lobe in particular seems to be specialized. [[Wernicke's area]] which spans the region between temporal and parietal lobes plays a key role (in tandem with [[Broca's area]], which is in the frontal lobe). The functions of the left temporal lobe are not limited to low-level perception but extend to comprehension, naming, verbal memory and other language functions.
  
The underside (ventral) part of the temporal cortex appears to be involved in high-level visual processing of complex stimuli such as [[face perception|faces]] ([[fusiform gyrus]]) and scenes ([[parahippocampal cortex]]). Anterior parts of this [[ventral stream]] for visual processing are involved in object perception and recognition.

The medial temporal lobe (near the saggital plane that divides left and right [[cerebral hemisphere|cerebral hemispheres]]) is thought to be involved in [[episodic memory|episodic]]/[[declarative memory]]. Deep inside the medial temporal lobe, the [[hippocampus]] seems to be particularly important for memory function, and it also seems to play a part in controlling spatial behaviour.

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====References====
* Adapted from the [[Wikipedia]] article, "Temporal_lobe" [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temporal_lobe http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temporal_lobe], used under the [[GNU Free Documentation License]]