parietal lobe

References

parietal lobe

anatomy

Also known as: parietal cortex

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 23, 2026

Quick Summary

The parietal lobe is one of the four major lobes of the cerebral cortex in the brain. It is located in the middle division of each cerebral hemisphere, behind the frontal lobe and above the temporal lobe.12

The parietal lobe plays a crucial role in processing sensory information, including touch, temperature, pain, and pressure. It is also involved in spatial orientation, navigation, and understanding the difference between right and left. In most individuals, the left parietal lobe is associated with comprehending written and spoken language, as well as arithmetic. Damage to this area can lead to difficulties with purposeful actions, spatial awareness, and sensory interpretation.34

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

human nervous system
Vision
Some neurons in the parietal cortex become active when a visual stimulus comes in from the edge of the visual field toward the center, while others are excited by particular movements of the eyes. Other neurons react with remarkable specificity—for example, only when the visual stimulus approaches from the…
Read More
Some neurons in the parietal cortex become active when a visual stimulus comes in from the edge of the visual field toward the center, while others are excited by particular movements of the eyes. Other neurons react with remarkable specificity—for example, only when the visual stimulus approaches from the…
Read More

nervous system disease
Cerebral hemispheres
In most people the left parietal lobe shares control of the comprehension of spoken and written language and of arithmetic, interprets the difference between right and left, identifies body parts, and determines how to perform meaningful motor actions. Damage to this lobe, located posterior to the central sulcus, leads to…
Read More
In most people the left parietal lobe shares control of the comprehension of spoken and written language and of arithmetic, interprets the difference between right and left, identifies body parts, and determines how to perform meaningful motor actions. Damage to this lobe, located posterior to the central sulcus, leads to…
Read More

neuroplasticity
Homologous area adaptation
…this is when the right parietal lobe (the parietal lobe forms the middle region of the cerebral hemispheres) becomes damaged early in life and the left parietal lobe takes over visuospatial functions at the cost of impaired arithmetical functions, which the left parietal lobe usually carries out exclusively. Timing is…
Read More
…this is when the right parietal lobe (the parietal lobe forms the middle region of the cerebral hemispheres) becomes damaged early in life and the left parietal lobe takes over visuospatial functions at the cost of impaired arithmetical functions, which the left parietal lobe usually carries out exclusively. Timing is…
Read More

human nervous system
Lobes of the cerebral cortex
The parietal lobe, posterior to the central sulcus, is divided into three parts: (1) the postcentral gyrus, (2) the superior parietal lobule, and (3) the inferior parietal lobule. The postcentral gyrus receives sensory input from the contralateral half of the body. The sequential representation is the…
Read More
The parietal lobe, posterior to the central sulcus, is divided into three parts: (1) the postcentral gyrus, (2) the superior parietal lobule, and (3) the inferior parietal lobule. The postcentral gyrus receives sensory input from the contralateral half of the body. The sequential representation is the…
Read More

spatial memory
Studies of spatial memory in humans
…represented in areas of the parietal lobe that coordinate actions such as reaching and grasping (the parietal lobe is one of the major brain lobes and specializes in the processing of sensory information). Neurons in posterior parietal areas in monkeys show responses tuned to visual stimuli in specific retinotopic locations…
Read More
…represented in areas of the parietal lobe that coordinate actions such as reaching and grasping (the parietal lobe is one of the major brain lobes and specializes in the processing of sensory information). Neurons in posterior parietal areas in monkeys show responses tuned to visual stimuli in specific retinotopic locations…
Read More