Brain Damage: How Brain Injuries Affect Different Parts of the Brain

The human brain is a remarkable organ responsible for every thought, movement, and function in our bodies.

But what happens when the brain sustains an injury?

Depending on which part of the brain is affected, the consequences can vary widely—from changes in personality to loss of basic bodily functions.

In this article, we’ll explore how brain injuries impact different regions of the brain, what symptoms might arise, and what recovery may look like.

The Brain’s Main Parts (and Their Jobs)

The brain is like the command center of the body, controlling everything we think, feel, and do.

It has different sections, each responsible for specific tasks.

Let’s break them down in simple terms:

Frontal lobe (the front part) – thinking and decisions

The frontal lobe is where problem-solving, planning, and decision-making happen.

It helps us think through problems, control our emotions, and shape our personality.

This part of the brain also helps us stay focused and make good choices.

Temporal lobes (the sides) – hearing and memory

The temporal lobes, located on both sides of the brain near the ears, handle sound processing.

They also help us understand language and store memories, making them essential for communication and learning.

Parietal lobe (the top) – touch and awareness

The parietal lobe helps us process touch, pain, temperature, and other sensations.

It also allows us to understand where our body is in space, helping with movement and coordination.

Occipital lobe (the back) – vision

The occipital lobe is all about sight.

It takes in visual information from the eyes and helps us recognize shapes, colors, and movement, allowing us to understand what we see.

Cerebellum (the little brain) – balance and coordination

The cerebellum, located at the lower back of the brain, fine-tunes our movements.

It helps us stay balanced, move smoothly, and perform physical activities like walking, writing, or catching a ball.

Brain stem – life’s essentials

The brainstem connects the brain to the spinal cord and controls automatic functions like breathing, heartbeat, and digestion.

It keeps us alive without us having to think about it.

How Injuries Affect Each Part

When an injury affects a specific part of the brain, it impacts the functions controlled by that region.

Let’s look at how damage to each section can change the way we think, feel, and move.

Frontal lobe injuries

The frontal lobe helps us plan, make decisions, and control our emotions.

When it’s injured, a person might experience:

Problems with thinking and planning – Tasks that were once easy, like organizing a schedule or solving a problem, may become difficult.
Poor decision-making – Judgment may be affected, leading to impulsive choices.
Emotional struggles – Mood swings, frustration, or difficulty managing emotions can occur.
Personality changes – Someone may act differently, struggle with social interactions, or lose motivation.

Temporal lobe injuries

The temporal lobes process sounds, store memories, and help us understand language.

If they’re damaged, a person might:

Struggle with hearing – Sounds may seem distorted or harder to process.
Have memory issues – Forgetting things easily or struggling to create new memories.
Find it hard to understand language – Conversations might become confusing, and finding the right words could be challenging.

Parietal lobe injuries

The parietal lobe helps us feel sensations and understand where our body is in space.

When injured, a person may experience:

Changes in touch sensitivity – Numbness, tingling, or difficulty sensing pain or temperature.
Poor body awareness – Trouble judging distances or knowing where their limbs are without looking.
Coordination difficulties – Simple tasks like reaching for an object or walking may feel awkward or unbalanced.

Occipital lobe injuries

The occipital lobe is responsible for processing what we see.

When it’s damaged, a person may experience:

Vision problems or blindness – They may struggle to see clearly, have trouble recognizing objects, or, in severe cases, lose vision completely.
Difficulty interpreting visual information – Even if the eyes work fine, the brain might not process images correctly, making it hard to understand what’s being seen.

Cerebellum injuries

The cerebellum helps us stay steady and move smoothly.

If it’s injured, a person may face:

Balance problems – They might feel unsteady, making falls more likely.
Clumsiness and poor coordination – Simple tasks like grabbing objects or moving smoothly can become difficult.
Difficulty walking – They may struggle with posture, have an unsteady gait, or feel dizzy when moving.

Brain stem injuries

The brain stem controls automatic functions that keep us alive.

Damage to this area can be very serious and may cause:

Breathing issues – Breathing may become irregular or even stop in severe cases.
Heartbeat problems – The heart rate might become too slow, too fast, or uneven.
Disruptions in basic bodily functions – Things like swallowing, digestion, and consciousness can be affected, making daily life very challenging.

Examples of Brain Injuries

Brain injuries can happen in different ways, and their effects depend on the type and severity of the damage.

Here are some common examples:

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) happens when a sudden blow or jolt to the head disrupts brain function. This can result from:

Car accidents
Falls
Sports injuries
Violence or assaults

TBIs can range from mild concussions to severe injuries that cause long-term problems with thinking, memory, and movement.

In 2019, hospitals in the U.S. treated about 223,000 TBI-related cases (CDC, 2022).

Stroke

A stroke occurs when blood can’t reach a part of the brain, causing brain cells to die.

This can happen because of:

A blood clot blocking an artery (ischemic stroke)
A weakened blood vessel bursting (hemorrhagic stroke)

– Strokes can lead to difficulties with speech, movement, memory, and even paralysis.

Every year, more than 795,000 people in the U.S. experience a stroke (American Stroke Association).

Fast medical treatment can make a big difference in recovery.

Other injuries

Not all brain injuries come from impacts or strokes.

Other serious conditions can also harm the brain, such as:

Infections – Diseases like meningitis can cause swelling in the brain.
Tumors – Abnormal growths in the brain can press on nerves and affect function.

Lack of oxygen (Anoxic Brain Injury) – If the brain doesn’t get enough oxygen, as in drowning or cardiac arrest, brain cells can die quickly.