The Frontal Lobes

The frontal lobes are located, as their name suggests, in the front of the brain. They are the largest of the brain lobes and perform myriad vital functions.

These frontal lobes are involved in motor function, problem solving, spontaneity, memory, speech, the ability to get started performing a task, (which, in turn, requires the recognition of the need to perform the task), judgment, impulse control, and social and sexual behavior.

There are numerous factors involved in assessing the cause of frontal lobe dysfunction. The cause has a bearing on the course of treatment and prognosis. Included in the possible causations are mental retardation, cerebrovascular disease, head trauma, brain tumors, brain infections, neurodegenerative disease and hydrocephalus due to increased intracranial pressure from any cause

The inability to communicate as well after a brain injury as before is a frequent outgrowth of a frontal lobe injury. Communication itself can take many forms. For example, a public speaker or someone prone to very logical or analytical thinking, and an artist, have very different ways of communicating. This is the distinction that is sometimes made between right- and left-brain thinkers.

Injury to one of the two frontal lobes can manifest itself in different ways depending on which frontal lobe is affected. This is because the left frontal lobe controls language abilities, whereas the right frontal lobe is usually more involved with non-verbal communication. Therefore, a person sustaining a left frontal lobe injury is more likely to have difficulty speaking or perhaps thinking clearly, whereas one sustaining a right-sided injury is more likely to suffer deficits in controlling emotions or facial expressions. These are generalities, not uniform distinctions, as there can be some overlap.

Distinct parts of the frontal lobes are implicated in different bodily and mental functions. For example, voluntary motor movements are controlled by the rear part of each frontal lobe. Because there are two frontal lobes, each controlling the opposite side of the body from which they are located, an injury to the rear portion of one frontal lobe will affect voluntary motor abilities on the opposite side of the body.

There is also a part of each frontal lobe—prefrontal cortex—that plays an important role in guiding head and eye movements. It also assists in maintaining a person’s sense of orientation, and addresses issues of intelligence, memory and concentration, and plays a big role in defining personality. An injury to this part of the brain will implicate these functions and aspects.

Yet another part of the frontal lobes is the primary motor cortex. It is anatomically near to and works in conjunction with several other brain areas. They are involved with the planning and execution of physical movements.

There exist an array of symptoms, that are sometimes not traceable to a specific event or disease process that may be indicative of a frontal lobe dysfunction. Broadly, these are referred to as frontal lobe syndromes, because they are not connected with events such as injuries, strokes or disease, they must be assessed and diagnosed with reference to symptoms and behaviors. The symptoms may include:

• Impulsivity
• Blunted affect
• Emotional and/or social withdrawal
• Passivity
• Lack of spontaneity
• Aggression, outbursts or rage, violent behavior
• Apathy
• Disorganization
• Attention and memory deficits
• Executive dysfunction
• Mood dysregulation
• Impaired social judgment
• Uncharacteristic lewdness
• Inability to appreciate the effects of own behavior on others
• Impaired communication skills, including inability to understand conversational inference
• Loss of social graces
• Reduced concern with personal appearance and hygiene
• Boisterousness

NeuLife offers clients numerous opportunities for community integration, outings, recreation, job training and placement, volunteering and much more. These activities can play a major role in addressing the behaviors above and move the client closer to achieving the goals of his or her goals.

Proper and timely post-acute rehabilitation and care that may determine the difference between disability and independence is what NeuLife refers to as the “platinum post-acute period”— the crucial window following acute care that is needed to nurture the whole person to health with specialized, clinically relevant services.

NeuLife’s philosophy is that healing, wellness and personal fulfillment are best accomplished in a positive and uplifting therapeutic environment where caring staff encourage, assist and support each client so that he or she may achieve specific goals. NeuLife believes personal fulfillment is equally as important as goals to increase function and independence. NeuLife’s multidisciplinary team seeks to achieve, for all of its clients, maximized, sustained outcomes that exceed the expectations of all persons served. Those referred to NeuLife may stay for any established period of time, whether for short-term, long-term or respite care.

NeuLife, in Mount Dora, Florida, is a fully accessible specialized residential post-acute program providing specialized rehabilitation to individuals diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury (SCI), traumatic amputations and other catastrophic injuries.

2725 Robie Avenue
Mount Dora, Florida 32757
Call: 800.626.3836
Email: [email protected]
Visit: NeuLifeRehab.com