Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAnatomySymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatment

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Anatomy

Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis

Treatment

The frontal lobe is a large part of the brain. It extends from the front of the brain almost halfway to the back, and it helps humans perform complex tasks, innovate, and imagine.

Damage to the frontal lobe, also called frontal lobe syndrome, can cause a range of symptoms. These can include behavioral problems, depression, and a loss of strength in the muscles. A variety of conditions can damage the frontal lobe, includingstroke,head trauma, anddementia.

This article discusses the frontal lobe of the brain, its functions, and the various conditions that can cause frontal lobe damage. It also discusses how frontal lobe damage is diagnosed and treated.

Where Is the Frontal Lobe and What Does It Do?

Thebrainhas two hemispheres, or halves: the left and right. The hemispheres are divided into three sections: the forebrain,midbrain, and hindbrain.

Each section contributes to specific functions:

The forebrain includes a major part of the brain called thecerebrum. The outer layer of the cerebrum is called the cerebral cortex.

Thefrontal lobeis one of the four lobes of the cerebral cortex. The other lobes are the temporal lobe, the parietal lobe, and the occipital lobe.

Each of the four lobes has specific functions. Damage to any one of them will cause problems with these functions. The sections below describe the main functions of the frontal lobe.

Social and Emotional Skills

The frontal lobe is responsible for decision-making and self-control. It also helps regulate emotions. This is the part of the brain that manages your interactions with other people. The frontal lobe regulates your behavior and helps you know what is socially acceptable and what is not.

Motor Function

The back of the frontal lobe is called the motor strip. This region controls and directs deliberate body movements.

The left side of the motor strip controls the right side of the body. The right side of the motor strip controls the left side of the body.

Language, Thinking, Reasoning, and Imagining

Many people have adominant sideof the frontal lobe, although some do not.

Functions of the frontal lobe include:

Symptoms of Frontal Lobe Damage

Because the frontal lobe has so many functions, a wide variety of symptoms can occur when it’s damaged. Frontal lobe damage may lead to one or more of the following:

There are other, less common conditions that can also affect the frontal lobe.

Dementia

Frontotemporaldementia(FTD) is a group of disorders that affect the frontal and temporal lobes.FTD is the second most common cause of dementia in people under 65.

People with FTD usually have behavior and personality changes. They may also have trouble with language.

People with a type ofAlzheimer’s diseasecalled frontal-variant Alzheimer’s disease may have similar symptoms. This form of Alzheimer’s disease is sometimes misdiagnosed as FTD.

Stroke

Strokes can also damage the frontal lobe. When blood flow to the frontal lobe is interrupted, it causes a loss of function in that part of the brain. This can also happen as a result of bleeding in the brain.

Vascular dementiacan happen after a stroke. It is a common cause of frontal lobe impairment. Vascular dementia can occur in a “mixed dementia” form with Alzheimer’s disease.

Coping With Stroke

Other Causes

Other conditions may cause damage or injury to the frontal lobe, including:

Diagnosis of Frontal Lobe Brain Injury

Healthcare providers can diagnose frontal lobe strokes and infections with diagnostic scans. Options includemagnetic resonance imaging(MRI) andcomputed tomography(CT or CAT).

An MRI creates a two- or three-dimensional image of the brain using a magnetic field and radio waves. A CT scan creates a 3D image from multiple X-rays.

MRI and CT scans are both effective tools for diagnosing vascular dementia. Some causes, like dementia or a traumatic brain injury, may appear on a scan as atrophy, or brain tissue loss. The scan may also show nothing.

A complete neuropsychological evaluation or aconcussiontest can help a healthcare provider assess damage to the frontal lobe. These tests look at:

Frontal Lobe SyndromesThe symptoms and treatment of various frontal lobe syndromes aren’t yet understood with precision, but there is growing evidence for how specific syndromes occur. Akinetic mutism, for example, is a rare disorder affecting speech.Disruptions to the medial frontal circuit lead to apathy, with motivation and planning problems.

Frontal Lobe Syndromes

The symptoms and treatment of various frontal lobe syndromes aren’t yet understood with precision, but there is growing evidence for how specific syndromes occur. Akinetic mutism, for example, is a rare disorder affecting speech.Disruptions to the medial frontal circuit lead to apathy, with motivation and planning problems.

Treatment of Frontal Lobe Brain Injury

Strategies for treating frontal lobe damage are different depending on the cause. For example, an infection can be treated with antibiotics. Brain tumors can be surgically removed or treated withchemotherapyor radiation.

There is currently no cure for degenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease. Treatments are being developed for Alzheimer’s disease. Medication and lifestyle changes can help improve symptoms.

Rehabilitation

Cognitive Rehabilitation

Helping Someone With a Frontal Lobe InjurySome issues resulting from a frontal lobe traumatic brain injury, such as mood swings, may improve within a few months.Other issues will cause ongoing difficulty. Seek counseling and advice on medication to help with symptoms. Caregivers should model behaviors that the injured person can imitate and be calm when a loved one displays anxiety or extreme emotions. Be prepared to restrain the person if there’s a risk they’ll harm themselves or others.

Helping Someone With a Frontal Lobe Injury

Some issues resulting from a frontal lobe traumatic brain injury, such as mood swings, may improve within a few months.Other issues will cause ongoing difficulty. Seek counseling and advice on medication to help with symptoms. Caregivers should model behaviors that the injured person can imitate and be calm when a loved one displays anxiety or extreme emotions. Be prepared to restrain the person if there’s a risk they’ll harm themselves or others.

Summary

The frontal lobe of the brain controls a number of important functions, including emotions, self-control, movement, language, and rational thought. Frontal lobe damage may affect any of these functions.

Frontal lobe damage can have many causes, including dementia and other degenerative brain diseases, stroke, infections, or brain tumors.

Frontal lobe damage can sometimes be diagnosed with imaging scans. In other cases, a neuropsychological evaluation may be necessary.

Treatment for frontal lobe damage can include medication, surgery, rehabilitation, or therapy.

What Is a Lobotomy and Why Is It Rare Now?

11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Reber J, Tranel D.Chapter 8 - Frontal lobe syndromes.Handbook of Clinical Neurology. Volume 163, 2019, Pages 147-164. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-804281-6.00008-2. Justin Reber, Daniel Tranel,Hennessee JP, Webb CE, Chen X, Kennedy KM, Wig GS, Park DC.Relationship of prefrontal brain lateralization to optimal cognitive function differs with age.NeuroImage. 2022;264:119736. doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119736Mitolo M, Zoli M, Testa C, Morandi L, Rochat MJ, Zaccagna F,et al.Neuroplasticity Mechanisms in Frontal Brain Gliomas: A Preliminary Study.Front Neurol. 2022 Jun 3;13:867048. doi:10.3389/fneur.2022.867048.Frontotemporal Disorders: Hope Through Research.National Institutes of Health. National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Han M, Kim DY, Leigh JH, Kim MW.Value of the Frontal Assessment Battery Tool for Assessing the Frontal Lobe Function in Stroke Patients.Ann Rehabil Med.2020 Aug;44(4):261-272. doi:10.5535/arm.19111.Olney NT, Spina S, Miller BL.Frontotemporal dementia.Neurol Clin.2017;35(2):339-74. doi:10.1016/j.ncl.2017.01.008Sawyer RP, Rodriguez-Porcel F, Hagen M, Shatz R, Espay AJ.Diagnosing the frontal variant of Alzheimer’s disease: a clinician’s yellow brick road.J Clin Mov Disord. 2017;4(1):1-9. doi:10.1186/s40734-017-0052-4Johns Hopkins Medicine.Vascular Dementia.Li L, Liu J.The effect of pediatric traumatic brain injury on behavioral outcomes: a systematic review.Dev Med Child Neurol. 2013;55(1):37‐45. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8749.2012.04414.xArnts H, van Erp WS, Lavrijsen JCM, van Gaal S, Groenewegen HJ, van den Munckhof P.On the pathophysiology and treatment of akinetic mutism.Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2020 May;112:270-278. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.02.006.Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC).Emotional Problems After Traumatic Brain Injury.

11 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Reber J, Tranel D.Chapter 8 - Frontal lobe syndromes.Handbook of Clinical Neurology. Volume 163, 2019, Pages 147-164. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-804281-6.00008-2. Justin Reber, Daniel Tranel,Hennessee JP, Webb CE, Chen X, Kennedy KM, Wig GS, Park DC.Relationship of prefrontal brain lateralization to optimal cognitive function differs with age.NeuroImage. 2022;264:119736. doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119736Mitolo M, Zoli M, Testa C, Morandi L, Rochat MJ, Zaccagna F,et al.Neuroplasticity Mechanisms in Frontal Brain Gliomas: A Preliminary Study.Front Neurol. 2022 Jun 3;13:867048. doi:10.3389/fneur.2022.867048.Frontotemporal Disorders: Hope Through Research.National Institutes of Health. National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Han M, Kim DY, Leigh JH, Kim MW.Value of the Frontal Assessment Battery Tool for Assessing the Frontal Lobe Function in Stroke Patients.Ann Rehabil Med.2020 Aug;44(4):261-272. doi:10.5535/arm.19111.Olney NT, Spina S, Miller BL.Frontotemporal dementia.Neurol Clin.2017;35(2):339-74. doi:10.1016/j.ncl.2017.01.008Sawyer RP, Rodriguez-Porcel F, Hagen M, Shatz R, Espay AJ.Diagnosing the frontal variant of Alzheimer’s disease: a clinician’s yellow brick road.J Clin Mov Disord. 2017;4(1):1-9. doi:10.1186/s40734-017-0052-4Johns Hopkins Medicine.Vascular Dementia.Li L, Liu J.The effect of pediatric traumatic brain injury on behavioral outcomes: a systematic review.Dev Med Child Neurol. 2013;55(1):37‐45. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8749.2012.04414.xArnts H, van Erp WS, Lavrijsen JCM, van Gaal S, Groenewegen HJ, van den Munckhof P.On the pathophysiology and treatment of akinetic mutism.Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2020 May;112:270-278. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.02.006.Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC).Emotional Problems After Traumatic Brain Injury.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Reber J, Tranel D.Chapter 8 - Frontal lobe syndromes.Handbook of Clinical Neurology. Volume 163, 2019, Pages 147-164. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-804281-6.00008-2. Justin Reber, Daniel Tranel,Hennessee JP, Webb CE, Chen X, Kennedy KM, Wig GS, Park DC.Relationship of prefrontal brain lateralization to optimal cognitive function differs with age.NeuroImage. 2022;264:119736. doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119736Mitolo M, Zoli M, Testa C, Morandi L, Rochat MJ, Zaccagna F,et al.Neuroplasticity Mechanisms in Frontal Brain Gliomas: A Preliminary Study.Front Neurol. 2022 Jun 3;13:867048. doi:10.3389/fneur.2022.867048.Frontotemporal Disorders: Hope Through Research.National Institutes of Health. National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Han M, Kim DY, Leigh JH, Kim MW.Value of the Frontal Assessment Battery Tool for Assessing the Frontal Lobe Function in Stroke Patients.Ann Rehabil Med.2020 Aug;44(4):261-272. doi:10.5535/arm.19111.Olney NT, Spina S, Miller BL.Frontotemporal dementia.Neurol Clin.2017;35(2):339-74. doi:10.1016/j.ncl.2017.01.008Sawyer RP, Rodriguez-Porcel F, Hagen M, Shatz R, Espay AJ.Diagnosing the frontal variant of Alzheimer’s disease: a clinician’s yellow brick road.J Clin Mov Disord. 2017;4(1):1-9. doi:10.1186/s40734-017-0052-4Johns Hopkins Medicine.Vascular Dementia.Li L, Liu J.The effect of pediatric traumatic brain injury on behavioral outcomes: a systematic review.Dev Med Child Neurol. 2013;55(1):37‐45. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8749.2012.04414.xArnts H, van Erp WS, Lavrijsen JCM, van Gaal S, Groenewegen HJ, van den Munckhof P.On the pathophysiology and treatment of akinetic mutism.Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2020 May;112:270-278. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.02.006.Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC).Emotional Problems After Traumatic Brain Injury.

Reber J, Tranel D.Chapter 8 - Frontal lobe syndromes.Handbook of Clinical Neurology. Volume 163, 2019, Pages 147-164. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-804281-6.00008-2. Justin Reber, Daniel Tranel,

Hennessee JP, Webb CE, Chen X, Kennedy KM, Wig GS, Park DC.Relationship of prefrontal brain lateralization to optimal cognitive function differs with age.NeuroImage. 2022;264:119736. doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119736

Mitolo M, Zoli M, Testa C, Morandi L, Rochat MJ, Zaccagna F,et al.Neuroplasticity Mechanisms in Frontal Brain Gliomas: A Preliminary Study.Front Neurol. 2022 Jun 3;13:867048. doi:10.3389/fneur.2022.867048.

Frontotemporal Disorders: Hope Through Research.National Institutes of Health. National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Han M, Kim DY, Leigh JH, Kim MW.Value of the Frontal Assessment Battery Tool for Assessing the Frontal Lobe Function in Stroke Patients.Ann Rehabil Med.2020 Aug;44(4):261-272. doi:10.5535/arm.19111.

Olney NT, Spina S, Miller BL.Frontotemporal dementia.Neurol Clin.2017;35(2):339-74. doi:10.1016/j.ncl.2017.01.008

Sawyer RP, Rodriguez-Porcel F, Hagen M, Shatz R, Espay AJ.Diagnosing the frontal variant of Alzheimer’s disease: a clinician’s yellow brick road.J Clin Mov Disord. 2017;4(1):1-9. doi:10.1186/s40734-017-0052-4

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Vascular Dementia.

Li L, Liu J.The effect of pediatric traumatic brain injury on behavioral outcomes: a systematic review.Dev Med Child Neurol. 2013;55(1):37‐45. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8749.2012.04414.x

Arnts H, van Erp WS, Lavrijsen JCM, van Gaal S, Groenewegen HJ, van den Munckhof P.On the pathophysiology and treatment of akinetic mutism.Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2020 May;112:270-278. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.02.006.

Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC).Emotional Problems After Traumatic Brain Injury.

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