Brain Function Breakdown
“I find it helps to understand how the brain works if you think of the brain as a company...”
Understanding the Brain as a Company
Frontal Temporal Lobes (Vice Presidents)
Up at the front of the company — the frontal temporal lobes
— are the vice presidents.
They make the plans for the company; they decide who’s going to do what and when.
As things get underway, they receive feedback on how well things are going and make
judgments — that looks good or not so good.
They then make further decisions — change that, keep this —
and show appreciation or annoyance.
So, at the front you have planning, organization, decision-making,
judgment, and appreciation.
Right Side of the Brain
On the right side of the brain, there’s another motor
department (for the left arm and leg),
a spatial reasoning department (for navigation and coordination), a music department, and
more.
The right side is the picture side and the left side is the
talking side.
Brain Injury Analogy
In a brain injury, someone in the company gets fired —
whether a vice president, manager, or worker — depending on the area damaged.
Sometimes someone goes on a leave of absence, as in swelling or temporary blood loss.
The result? Reduced efficiency: messages don’t get through,
leaders get frustrated, workers burn out.
Parietal Association Cortex (Managers)
In the middle of the brain are the managers. Each one oversees a department and ensures the plans are executed smoothly. They constantly communicate and coordinate to keep everything on track.
Limbic Region (Workers)
At the bottom of the brain are the workers: the limbic region, amygdala, and basal ganglia. They don’t know the company’s master plan, but they consistently do their jobs: appetite control, thirst, sleep cycles, emotions, and alertness.
Left Side of the Brain
On the left side of the brain, you’ll find the departments responsible for speech, language, and movement of the right side of the body. They handle communication, vocabulary, and precise physical actions.
Rehabilitation & Recovery
Rehabilitation's goal is to identify which roles were lost and reassign tasks effectively. With smart rerouting and repetition, the brain (the company) can return to a more functional and efficient state.