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Updated: May 22, 2026
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A Comprehensive Protocol for Manual Segmentation of the Medial Temporal Lobe Structures
Published on: July 2, 2014
The angular gyrus: multiple functions and multiple subdivisions.
1Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK. m.seghier@fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk
Summary
The angular gyrus (AG) is a key brain region for processing concepts, integrating multisensory information, and supporting various cognitive functions like language and memory. Its role is complex and interconnected with other brain areas.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- The angular gyrus (AG), located in the inferior parietal lobule, is frequently activated across diverse cognitive tasks.
- Numerous meta-analyses highlight its consistent involvement in various functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the extensive functional neuroimaging literature on the angular gyrus (AG).
- To elucidate the AG's role in semantic processing, numerical cognition, memory, attention, reasoning, and social cognition.
- To discuss recent findings on AG subdivisions and its function as a cross-modal integration hub.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive review of functional neuroimaging studies.
- Analysis of meta-analysis findings related to angular gyrus activation.
- Synthesis of literature on AG's role in diverse cognitive tasks.
Main Results:
- The AG plays a crucial role in processing abstract concepts over sensory percepts.
- It acts as a cross-modal hub, integrating multisensory information for comprehension and cognitive operations.
- Evidence suggests multiple subdivisions within the AG, aiding in precise localization.
Conclusions:
- The angular gyrus is vital for interfacing perception with recognition and action, primarily processing conceptual information.
- It serves as a critical integration center for multisensory inputs, supporting complex cognition.
- Understanding the AG's function requires considering its interactions with other brain regions, and further research into its subdivisions is warranted.
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