Explore the brain

Your brain is the hardest-working part of your body. It’s in charge of everything you think, feel, say and do.

Different parts of the brain do different jobs. When a person has dementia, the problems that they have depend on which part of their brain is damaged.

Click the hotspots to learn more about how your amazing brain works and play our brain games.

Frontal lobe

What it does...

This area is the boss of your brain, and the rest of your body. It helps you to think and decide what to do. You use your frontal lobe when you choose a birthday present, do a jigsaw, or try to make someone feel happy.

Have you ever felt angry, jealous or sad, but tried not to show it? Your frontal lobe helps you to control your feelings. It shapes your whole personality.

How it’s affected...

If a person’s frontal lobe isn’t working very well, their personality may change. They may do or say things they would never have done before they were ill.

Personality
Emotions
Behaviour

Did you know?

Your brain is wrinkled and folded to help it fit inside your head. If you spread it out flat, it would be about the size of a pillowcase.

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Parietal lobe

What it does...

This part of your brain keeps track of where your body is and what it’s doing. It helps you pick things up and use them. It stops you from bumping into things as you walk along. This part of your brain is also great at putting things in order, so you can read, write and count.

How it’s affected...

If this area of the brain isn’t working well, a person might walk into things or knock things over and have problems putting clothes on or climbing stairs.

Ordering
Body Control

Did you know?

Close your eyes and touch your nose. Did you do it? Thanks to your parietal lobe, you know where different parts of your body are even with your eyes closed.

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Temporal lobe and hippocampus

What it does...

This part of your brain helps you to understand what you see and hear. It lets you recognise your friends and family. It’s important for speaking because it helps you to remember what words mean.

The hippocampus is a small part of your brain shaped like a sea horse. It lets you make new memories. It also helps you to play those memories back so you can remember what you’ve done or said in the past.

How it’s affected...

If the hippocampus isn’t working well, a person can’t make new memories anymore. They may forget things they have only just said or done.

If a person’s temporal lobes are damaged, they may forget the names of people and objects, and the meaning of words. This can make speaking very difficult.

Memory
Language
Recognition

Did you know?

Messages in your brain can travel at 260 mph! That’s faster than a racing car.

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Occipital lobe

What it does...

This area of the brain has one very important job. It helps you to make sense of everything that you see, using clues such as colour and shape. It’s also important for producing your dreams.

How it’s affected...

If this part of the brain isn’t working well, a person might not be able to notice or recognise things that they are looking at. They may be able to recognise an object by touching or hearing it instead.

Vision

Did you know?

Can you imagine a bear riding a bicycle? Your occipital lobe lets you picture things in your mind.

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