The frontal lobe of the brain (behind the forehead) is the largest of the four lobes of the brain. The frontal lobe controls “executive functions,” such as memory, thinking, reasoning, information processing, organizing, planning, decision making and judgment. The back part of the frontal lobe controls voluntary movement. The frontal lobe is the “gatekeeper” of one’s personality, controlling judgment, inhibition, and an individual’s emotional traits.
Frontal lobe injuries can cause the following symptoms:
- Reduced drive
- Mood changes (Emotionally Labile)
- Personality changes
- Memory deficits
- Impaired information processing speed
- Reduced judgment
- Increased impulsivity and disinhibition
- Uncharacteristic lewdness and cursing
- Difficulty with problem solving
- Loss of flexibility in thinking
- Problems with interpersonal behavior
- Loss of spontaneity in interacting with others
- Reduced attention
- Inability to focus on task (Attending)
- Persistence of a single thought (Perseveration)
- Inability to express language (Broca’s Aphasia)
- Increased aggression
- Inability to plan properly and execute those plans (Executive Function)
- Increased disorganization
- Inability to plan a sequence of complex movements needed to complete multi-stepped tasks (Sequencing)
- Altered sense of smell (Anosmia)
- Loss of simple movement of various body parts (Paralysis)
- Diminution of attention to personal appearance and hygiene
Tests to assess frontal lobe function include:
- Word fluency
- Abstract thinking
- Proverb and metaphor interpretation
- Wisconsin Card Sorting Test
- Block design
- Maze test
- Hand position test
- Copying and rhythm tapping tasks
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