temporal lobe: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Academic/Medical
Quick answer
What does “temporal lobe” mean?
One of the four major lobes of the cerebral cortex in the brain, located beneath the lateral fissure on each side of the brain, primarily involved in auditory processing, memory formation, and language comprehension.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
One of the four major lobes of the cerebral cortex in the brain, located beneath the lateral fissure on each side of the brain, primarily involved in auditory processing, memory formation, and language comprehension.
In broader contexts, may refer metaphorically to brain functions related to memory, emotion, or sensory processing, or in architecture/design to structures resembling its shape.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or syntactic differences. Spelling remains identical. Both use 'temporal lobe' exclusively.
Connotations
Identical technical/medical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in general discourse, equally high-frequency in neuroscience/medical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “temporal lobe” in a Sentence
The [adj] temporal lobe is responsible for [function].[Pathology] affects the temporal lobe.Damage to the temporal lobe can cause [symptom].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “temporal lobe” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- temporal-lobe epilepsy
- temporal-lobe function
American English
- temporal lobe epilepsy
- temporal lobe function
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare, except in biotech/pharma corporate communications.
Academic
Standard term in neuroscience, psychology, medicine, biology papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Core, high-frequency term in neurology, neurosurgery, radiology, psychiatry.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “temporal lobe”
Strong
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “temporal lobe”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “temporal lobe”
- Using 'temporal lobe' to refer to general brain activity (too specific).
- Pronouncing 'temporal' with stress on second syllable (correct is TEM-por-al).
- Confusing with 'temporary lobe' (spelling error).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, there is a left and a right temporal lobe, one in each cerebral hemisphere.
Depending on the location and extent, damage can cause memory impairment (especially long-term), language comprehension difficulties (if left lobe is affected), hearing problems, or temporal lobe epilepsy.
In general English, 'temporal' can mean 'relating to time'. In 'temporal lobe', it is anatomical, derived from Latin for 'temple' (the side of the head), not time.
Surgeons sometimes perform a temporal lobectomy to treat severe epilepsy. Patients can live with significant deficits in memory and auditory processing, but other brain areas may partially compensate.
One of the four major lobes of the cerebral cortex in the brain, located beneath the lateral fissure on each side of the brain, primarily involved in auditory processing, memory formation, and language comprehension.
Temporal lobe is usually technical/academic/medical in register.
Temporal lobe: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtem.pər.əl ˈləʊb/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtem.pɚ.əl ˈloʊb/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think TEMPORAL = related to TIME (as it's involved in memory of past events) and LOBE = a rounded part. It's the 'memory-time lobe'.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE BRAIN IS A COMPUTER (with the temporal lobe as the 'hard drive' for memory and the 'sound card' for hearing).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is primarily a function of the temporal lobe?