temporal lobe

American  

noun

Anatomy, Zoology.

1. the lateral lobe of each cerebral hemisphere, in front of the occipital lobe.

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temporal lobe British  

noun

1. the laterally protruding portion of each cerebral hemisphere, situated below the parietal lobe and associated with sound perception and interpretation: it is thought to be the centre for memory recall

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temporal lobe Scientific  

1. The lobe of each cerebral hemisphere lying to the side and rear of the frontal lobe. The temporal lobe controls hearing and some aspects of language perception, emotion, and memory.

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Etymology

Origin of temporal lobe

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

Dr. Flaherty provocatively suggests that Van Gogh suffered from temporal lobe epilepsy and that his condition may have played an important role in his achievements.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026

And in the Simpsons neuron case, for example, it was just a subset of neurons in the medial temporal lobe that behaved with extreme specificity to enable patients to quickly grasp the relevant concept.

From Salon • Apr. 25, 2025

Riddled by seizures, he was referred to a surgeon, who localized the epilepsy to the temporal lobe inside his brain, home of the hippocampus.

From Science Daily • Nov. 20, 2024

In a similar way, the recent study suggests that loss of temporal lobe activity somehow disinhibits artistic creativity in some individuals.

From Scientific American • May 26, 2023

Taste and smell functions reside in brain cortex only a small portion of which can be seen, viz. that at the tip of the temporal lobe.

From The Brain and the Voice in Speech and Song by Mott, F. W. (Frederick Walker)