Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 1, 2025
11:29
Anteromesial Temporal Lobectomy for Medically Intractable Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: An Operative Study
Published on: August 15, 2025
612
The functions of the temporal-parietal junction.
1Department of Psychology, "La Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy; Laboratory of Neuropsychology of Attention, I.R.C.C.S. Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy.
Handbook of Clinical Neurology
|August 14, 2022
Summary
The temporal-parietal junction (TPJ) is a complex brain region involved in many cognitive functions. Recent research highlights hemispheric differences and specific subsector roles within the TPJ, offering new clinical insights.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neuroanatomy
Background:
- The human temporal-parietal junction (TPJ) is an anatomically diverse area.
- It is implicated in a wide array of cognitive functions, including memory, language, attention, self-consciousness, and social behavior.
- Existing clinical evidence suggests hemispheric specialization within the TPJ.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review empirical evidence and theoretical proposals regarding TPJ function.
- To provide a unifying interpretation of the TPJ's diverse roles.
- To explore how advances in cognitive neuroscience can inform clinical understanding of TPJ-related deficits.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) investigations.
- Analysis of theoretical proposals on TPJ function.
- Synthesis of empirical evidence and clinical observations.
Main Results:
- fMRI studies confirm significant hemispheric differences in TPJ function.
- Specific subsectors within each hemisphere are associated with distinct cognitive functions.
- A novel overarching interpretation of TPJ function is proposed.
Conclusions:
- The TPJ's functional heterogeneity is supported by hemispheric and subsector-specific specializations.
- Understanding these distinctions is crucial for interpreting cognitive deficits in patients with TPJ lesions.
- This review offers a framework for a unified view of TPJ function in cognitive neuroscience and clinical practice.
Keywords:
AttentionCerebral hemispheresLanguageMemoryParietal lobeTPJTemporal lobeTemporal–parietal junctionTheory of mindfMRIMore Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:21Association Areas of the Cortex
6.1K
Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
6.1K
01:24Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex
880
The somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobes is crucial for interpreting sensory data such as touch, temperature, and proprioception. The somatosensory cortex, situated in the parietal lobes, plays a vital role in interpreting sensory information like touch, temperature, and proprioception—awareness of body position. This specialized brain region features an organized structure wherein neurons at the top primarily process sensations originating from the lower body. In contrast, those at...
880
01:14Overview of Cell-Cell Junctions
25.9K
The complex three-dimensional arrangement of cells in any multicellular organism is defined and maintained by interactions of cells with each other and the extracellular matrix. Cell-cell junctions are specialized structures where the multi-protein complexes on one cell interact with the multi-protein complexes on another cell. These cell junctions are classified into three main types based on their function — occluding, anchoring, and gap junctions.
Occluding or Tight...
Occluding or Tight...
25.9K
01:14Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex
4.5K
The cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer, is pivotal in processing complex cognitive tasks, emotions, and various sensory inputs and executing voluntary motor activities. This intricate structure is divided into three primary functional areas: the motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex....
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex....
4.5K
01:22Lobes of the Cerebrum
912
The cerebral cortex, a critical structure of the brain, is intricately divided into two hemispheres, each consisting of four distinct lobes: occipital, temporal, frontal, and parietal. These lobes function cooperatively to regulate various cognitive and sensory functions, forming the basis of our complex neural capabilities.
Frontal lobe
The frontal lobes, located behind the forehead, are the command center of our brain, controlling personality, intelligence, and voluntary muscle movements....
Frontal lobe
The frontal lobes, located behind the forehead, are the command center of our brain, controlling personality, intelligence, and voluntary muscle movements....
912
01:29Tight Junctions
5.5K
Tight junctions are molecular seals between cells that prevent the leaking of fluids, ions, and other small solutes across cavities and compartments in multicellular organisms. They are mainly composed of claudin and occludin transmembrane proteins, and other proteins such as tricellulin and JAM (junctional adhesion molecule). All these proteins are 4-pass transmembrane proteins, except JAM, which is a single-pass transmembrane protein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. The...
5.5K