So what we have learned, is that different areas of the cortex receive a different sensory input. However, not the entire cortex is occupied by the sensory functions. There is still a vast majority of the brain that is left over. The left over regions are called the association areas. The association areas integrate information and associate a wide variety of sensory inputs with stored memories. This is a very important part of thinking. These areas are found in all four lobes. Do you remember what the four lobes are? The frontal lobe, the parietal lobe, the occipital lobe, and the temporal lobe. In the frontal lobe, the association area helps us judge, plan, and process new memories. The parietal lobe enables mathematical and spatial reasoning (the ability to visualize patterns). The temporal lobe permits us to recognize faces, and the occipital lobe helps us estimate the age and gender of the face (Myers 79-80).
Julia, Dovgy, widener, medical scholar
