The frontal lobe of the brain actually includes several locations, and collectively it makes up a third of the total brain weight.
It is important to understand the function of this area of the brain to better understand what may happen in the event of an injury.
What does the frontal lobe control?
Physiopedia talks about injuries to the frontal lobe of the brain. These injuries affect any of the lobes in the front, which include:
- The motor cortex
- The prefrontal cortex
- The premotor cortex
- Broca’s Area
- The frontal eye fields
- The supplementary motor cortex
Each of these areas controls a different part of the brain or body. For example, the motor cortex controls voluntary movement and the frontal eye fields control voluntary movement of the eyes.
How victims respond to injury
Depending on several factors like the overall health of the victim and the force behind the injuring blow, it can mean numerous things for the victim. For example, one of the most common changes they face involves a lack of impulse control and increased agitation, tied to the prefrontal cortex and its control over behaviors.
Another common issue ties to the prefrontal cortex’s working memory functions. By injuring the frontal lobe, it is possible and even likely for the victim to suffer from some form of memory loss or damage as well.
In many people, these issues will resolve over time as healing continues and swelling decreases. But for some, they present life-long issues that a person will need to change their habits and lifestyle in order to accommodate.
Thus, these injuries serve as a major source of disruption and stress for those who suffer through them.