Brain Structure and Memory Functions

Brain Hemispheres

Left Hemisphere

Receives information from the right side of the body. Dominates verbal tasks such as identification of spoken words and written speech.

Right Hemisphere

Receives information from the left side of the body. Involved in visual-spatial tasks, non-verbal imagery (visual images, music, environmental noise), face recognition, and the perception and expression of emotions.

Brain Lobes

Occipital Lobe

Receives and processes visual information. Involved in experiencing shapes, color, and motion in the environment.

Temporal Lobe

Involved in visual tasks like face recognition, processing smell, receiving and processing information from the ears, helping with body balance, and regulating emotions and motivations like anxiety, pleasure, and anger.

Parietal Lobe

Receives sensory information from throughout the body (sensory receptors in the skin, muscles, and joints). Contributes to spatial abilities such as the ability to read a map.

Frontal Lobe

Left Frontal Lobe

Greater activation in this area is associated with being more sociable, emotional, and confident.

Right Frontal Lobe

Greater activation is more likely to be associated with more stress, discomfort, and suspicion.

Language Association Areas

Sylvian Fissure and Rolandic Fissure

Involved in the process of speaking, listening, reading, writing, and sign language.

Wernicke's Area

Involved in speech understanding; a key cognitive linguistic sector.

Broca's Area

The area of expression, articulation, and speech coding.

Exner's Area

Relates to the motor control of writing.

Memory

From a general point of view, memory is the retention and storage of information.

Explicit Memory (Declarative Memory)

Gathering information and past experiences, remembering facts and events.

Implicit Memory

Remembering the way things are and who they are. Represents the unconscious influences of past experiences.

Episodic Memory

Linked to the hippocampal system; related to recalling events that occurred at a specific time and place.

Perceptual Representation Memory

Identifying words and objects based on their form and structure. Involves remembering the physical form and spelling of words and the sound of each word.

Procedural Memory

Remembering skills and habits, learning how to do something. Gradually acquired through repeated practice.

Working Memory

Concerns the retention of newly acquired information for short periods (seconds or minutes). Necessary for reasoning and problem-solving.