Temporoparietal junction

Temporoparietal junction (TPJ) is an area of the brain where the temporal and parietal lobes meet, at the posterior end of the Sylvian fissure. The TPJ incorporates information from the thalamus and the limbic system, as well as from visual, auditory, and somatosensory systems. It is involved in numerous aspects of cognitive function, including attention, social cognition, and memory.

Etymology

The term "temporoparietal junction" is derived from its location in the brain, at the junction of the temporal and parietal lobes.

Function

The TPJ plays a crucial role in various aspects of cognitive function. It is involved in the process of attention, particularly in the reorienting of attention. It also plays a role in social cognition, including the ability to understand the perspectives and beliefs of others, known as theory of mind. Additionally, the TPJ is involved in aspects of memory, particularly episodic memory.

Clinical significance

Damage to the TPJ can result in a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders. These include hemispatial neglect, a condition in which a person is unable to attend to or process stimuli on one side of space. It can also result in schizophrenia, autism, and other disorders of social cognition.

See also

• Parietal lobe
• Temporal lobe
• Sylvian fissure
• Thalamus
• Limbic system

References

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  Diagram of the temporoparietal junction

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  Brain lobes highlighting the temporoparietal junction

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  Animation of the temporoparietal junction