Cerebrum Function

Though all of us know that the brain is one of the most important parts of the nervous system, some of the most crucial aspects of the brain, such as cerebrum functions, continue to elude some of the smartest minds. Continue reading to know more about cerebrum function and location.
With functions like imagination, thought, perception, judgment and decision to its credit, the cerebrum is undoubtedly one of the most important parts of the nervous system. In most of the cases, this part of the brain is associated with various human body functions pertaining to thought and action. Among the various parts of the brain, the cerebrum is the largest, and accounts for the 2/3's of its total weight. The cerebrum consists of around fifty hundred to a hundred thousand neurons which send information from one part of the body to another at tremendous speeds. Before we move on to cerebrum functions, let's try to get some more information about its location.

Where is the Cerebrum Located?
The cerebrum is located in the anterior portion of the forebrain. The image we tend to envision when we hear the term 'brain' is nothing but the cerebrum. This doesn't quite come as a surprise, as it is the most dominant part of the brain, both in terms of size as well as functions. A glance at the human brain diagram, and you will realize that this uppermost layer of the brain is full of wrinkles, which make the brain more efficient.

What are the Functions of the Cerebrum?
In order to understand the basic cerebrum functions, one needs to get well-versed with its divisions first. This part of the brain can be descriptively divided into two hemispheres or four lobes (sections). As far as the division according to hemispheres is concerned, the cerebrum is divided into two parts - the right hemisphere, which controls the left side of the body, and the left hemisphere, which controls the right side of the body. Each of these sections of the cerebrum are assigned a particular task. The right hemisphere of the cerebrum is often associated with creativity, while the left hemisphere is often associated with logical abilities.

Cerebrum Functions According to the Lobes
In terms of lobes, the cerebrum is divided into four sections - the frontal lobe, the parietal lobe, the temporal lobe and the occipital lobe. Each of these lobes are named after the cranial bone nearest to therm. The frontal lobe, which lies right behind the frontal bone, primarily facilitates voluntary motor coordination. This part of the cerebrum is also associated with reasoning, planning and emotions. The parietal lobe, which lies towards the parietal bone in the upper middle part of the brain, is primarily responsible for the sense of touch or perception. Various things, right from temperature of the surrounding to the weight you lift, are processed in this region. Located next to the temporal bone, temporal lobe function mainly includes proper functioning of auditory (related to hearing) and olfactory (related to smell) senses. The occipital lobe, lying right in front of the occipital bone is mainly associated with sight, and hence any damage to this part is known to result in loss of sight.

The information about cerebrum function and location provided in this article will clear your doubts about the functioning of human brain. With so many crucial functions to its credit, one can imagine how disastrous any damage to our brain, and particularly to the cerebrum, can turn out to be. Nature has indeed provided it with a protective covering in the form of a strong skull, but that doesn't mean we can afford to take a risk when it comes to our brain.
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Published: 3/20/2010
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