When the Parietal Lobes Don’t Work as Usual

The Parietal Lobe

The parietal lobe, situated at the top of the brain, is a multifaceted region responsible for processing sensory information, spatial awareness, attention, and motor control. Let us take a look at more disorders arising from dysfunction of the parietal lobe.

Balint's Syndrome

Balint's syndrome is like having blinders on your mind, not your eyes. It's a condition where your brain has trouble putting together the whole picture of what you're seeing. Imagine looking at a forest but only being able to see one tree at a time. Or trying to reach for a cup but missing it completely because you can't guide your hand correctly.

This happens because of damage to a specific part of your brain called the parietal lobe. This area is important for understanding where things are in space and how to move your body in relation to them. When it's injured, it can cause a mix of problems with vision and movement.

People with Balint's syndrome often have trouble focusing their eyes on things, making it hard to follow objects as they move. They might also struggle to see more than one thing at a time, like the words on a page or the people in a room. And even if they can see something, they might have trouble reaching for it or picking it up.

It's important to remember that people with Balint's syndrome can see clearly, but their brain is having trouble processing the information. This can make everyday life very challenging, but with the right support and therapy, people can learn to adapt and manage the condition.

Dyscalculia

Dyscalculia is like having a foggy brain when it comes to numbers. It's a learning difficulty that makes it hard to understand and use numbers. It's not because someone is lazy or stupid; it's how their brain works.

Imagine trying to learn a foreign language where the grammar rules just don't click. That's kind of what it's like for someone with dyscalculia and numbers. Simple things like adding, subtracting, or even telling time can be a real struggle. It's like having a puzzle with missing pieces when it comes to math.

This difficulty comes from differences in the brain. Researchers think that certain areas involved in number processing might not work as efficiently in people with dyscalculia. It's important to remember that everyone's brain is different, and having dyscalculia doesn't mean someone isn't smart. With the right support and strategies, people with dyscalculia can learn to manage their challenges and succeed.

Alexia

Alexia is like having a perfectly good TV but a broken cable. You can see the images clearly, but the signal isn't getting through. It's a condition where your brain loses the ability to read, even though your eyes work fine and you're intelligent. Imagine being able to talk and write normally, but suddenly not understanding a single word you read. That's what it's like for someone with alexia.

This happens because of damage to specific parts of the brain involved in processing written language. It's as if the wiring between your eyes and your language centre has been disrupted. This is different from dyslexia, where reading is difficult but not impossible. With alexia, the ability to read is completely or almost completely lost.

People with alexia can't just "sound out" words either. It's not like they're forgetting how to read; their brain can no longer process the visual information from the page into meaningful language. This makes everyday life incredibly challenging, as reading is a part of so many activities.

While there's no cure for alexia, researchers are studying the condition to better understand how the brain processes language. With time, they hope to develop treatments that can help people with alexia regain some of their reading ability.

We shall learn about more such disorders in the upcoming article.