Have you ever wondered what happens when certain parts of the brain are damaged? Why do some people lose their sense of judgment, become impulsive, or show no empathy? These aren’t just personality quirks—they often trace back to how the brain works and what happens when key areas stop functioning properly.
Let’s break it down and explore how different parts of the brain help us think, feel, and behave—and what happens when those areas are impaired.
1. Impulse Control: The Brain’s Brakes
Area involved: Frontal lobes (both sides)
What happens if damaged: People may lash out, act without thinking, or struggle to control urges.
The frontal lobes are like the brain’s “brakes.” They help us stop ourselves from doing things we’ll regret—like yelling in anger or making a rash decision. When these areas are damaged, those brakes stop working properly. That’s why some people become aggressive or impulsive after a brain injury.
2. Judgment: Weighing Right from Wrong
Area involved: Prefrontal cortex
What happens if damaged: People make poor choices, take risks, or seem unaware of consequences.
The prefrontal cortex helps us plan ahead, think about risks, and make smart decisions. When it’s not working well, someone might gamble all their money, trust dangerous people, or ignore obvious warning signs.
3. Language & Reasoning: Making Sense of the World
Area involved: Left side of the brain (Broca’s & Wernicke’s areas)
What happens if damaged: Speech can become confused or jumbled, and thinking may seem disorganized.
The left side of the brain helps us understand and produce language, as well as think logically. Damage here can make it hard to express thoughts clearly or follow a conversation. It may also affect reasoning skills.
4. Emotional Regulation: Keeping Feelings in Check
Area involved: Right frontal lobe
What happens if damaged: Mood swings, paranoia, or a lack of empathy.
This part of the brain helps us manage emotions and understand others. When it’s impaired, people may seem overly angry, suspicious, or emotionally detached—even toward people they once cared about.
5. Social Behavior: Knowing What’s Appropriate
Area involved: Orbitofrontal cortex (part of the frontal lobe)
What happens if damaged: People may act in socially inappropriate, rude, or risky ways.
This area helps us behave appropriately in social situations. When damaged, someone might make inappropriate comments, disregard others’ feelings, or engage in reckless behavior without realizing it’s wrong.
6. Memory & Logic: Learning from Experience
Areas involved: Multiple regions across both sides of the brain
What happens if damaged: People may forget what they’ve learned, repeat mistakes, or struggle with logical thinking.
Memory and logical thinking rely on several brain systems working together. Damage to these areas can make it hard to remember lessons from the past or make connections between actions and consequences.
Why This Matters
Brain injuries, strokes, dementia, and some mental health conditions can all affect these regions. Understanding which part of the brain is involved helps doctors figure out why someone is behaving differently—and how to help.
When we understand the brain better, we also become more compassionate. That angry outburst or poor judgment might not be intentional—it could be the brain’s way of signaling something’s wrong.
Based on Research From:
- Bechara et al. (2000) — On impulse control and decision-making
- Fuster (2001) — Prefrontal cortex and planning
- Geschwind (1970) — Language processing
- Blair (2003) — Emotional regulation and empathy
- Rolls (2004) — Social behavior and the orbitofrontal cortex
- Baddeley (2003) — Memory and working brain systems
Cognitive & Emotional Functions Likely Impaired by Brain Dysfunction:
| Function | Brain Area Involved | Impact of Impairment |
|---|---|---|
| Impulse Control | Frontal lobe (bilateral) | Increased aggression, impulsivity, and reduced self-restraint [1] |
| Judgment | Prefrontal cortex | Poor decision-making, inability to assess risks and outcomes [2] |
| Language & Reasoning | Left hemisphere (Broca’s & Wernicke’s areas) | Disorganized speech, confusion, and impaired logical thought [3] |
| Emotional Regulation | Right frontal lobe | Emotional instability, paranoia, lack of empathy or remorse [4] |
| Social Behavior | Orbitofrontal cortex (frontal lobe) | Inappropriate social responses, risky or antisocial behavior [5] |
| Memory & Logic | Bilateral cortical and subcortical structures | Difficulty learning from consequences, impaired working memory [6] |
Citations:
- Bechara, A., Damasio, H., & Damasio, A. R. (2000). Emotion, decision making and the orbitofrontal cortex. Cerebral Cortex, 10(3), 295–307.
- Fuster, J. M. (2001). The prefrontal cortex—An update: Time is of the essence. Neuron, 30(2), 319–333.
- Geschwind, N. (1970). The organization of language and the brain. Science, 170(3961), 940–944.
- Blair, R. J. R. (2003). Neurobiological basis of psychopathy. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 182(1), 5–7.
- Rolls, E. T. (2004). The functions of the orbitofrontal cortex. Brain and Cognition, 55(1), 11–29.
- Baddeley, A. D. (2003). Working memory: Looking back and looking forward. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 4(10), 829–839.
If you found this article helpful, share it with someone who might be curious about the brain—or someone navigating the effects of brain injury or neurological conditions.