Takes part in: memory, vision, hearing — see every part of each lit together.
Where it is
The lateral sulcus separates it from the frontal and parietal lobes above it. [2][1]
Its outer surface has three horizontal gyri, superior, middle and inferior temporal; on its underside lie the fusiform gyrus and, nearest the midline, the parahippocampal gyrus. [1][3][4]
Its inner (medial) part holds the hippocampus, with the amygdala deep in the lobe in front of it. [1][5]
On this model the temporal lobe is lit as five gyri: the superior, middle and inferior temporal gyri on its outer face and the fusiform and parahippocampal gyri underneath. The superior temporal gyrus comes in the atlas as a front and a back piece on each side. The small transverse (Heschl’s) gyri folded into the lateral fissure have no mesh of their own. [6]
What it does
It holds the primary auditory cortex, on the superior temporal gyrus where it extends into the lateral sulcus as the transverse temporal (Heschl’s) gyri, roughly Brodmann areas 41 and 42. [7][2]
Neighbouring cells in the primary auditory cortex respond to neighbouring sound frequencies. [7]
Visual areas along it interpret the meaning of what is seen and establish object recognition: the fusiform gyrus is linked to faces, the parahippocampal gyrus to scenes. [1]
Wernicke’s area, linked to understanding language, spans the region between the temporal and parietal lobes, usually in the left hemisphere. [1][8]
Its medial part, with the hippocampus, is essential for forming and storing memories. [1]
Connections
The primary auditory cortex receives direct input from the medial geniculate nucleus of the thalamus. [7]
The arcuate fasciculus links Wernicke’s area with Broca’s area in the frontal lobe. [9]
Visual signals reach it from the occipital lobe along the ventral (“what”) stream, the route used for recognising objects. [10]
Other names
Latin: lobus temporalis. “Temporal” refers to the temples of the head. [1]
Size
On this model the left temporal lobe measures about 114 mm front to back, 60 mm top to bottom and 61 mm side to side (the box it fits in, not its volume); the right one is its mirror image. [6]
Centre of the left temporal lobe compared with the centre of the left frontal lobe: 35 mm further back, 44 mm lower, 17 mm further from the midline; 58 mm apart in a straight line. [6]
Centre of the left temporal lobe compared with the centre of the left hippocampus: 4 mm further back, 17 mm further from the midline; 17 mm apart in a straight line. [6]
Facts describe anatomy and normal function only. The 3D model is the adult male BodyParts3D brain (credits and licence); real brains vary in size and shape, so its measurements describe one model, not anyone’s brain.