Angular rotation (brain): areas, functions and associated disorders
The ability of the person to understand what they hear or read, is something that is done so automatically, that we rarely stop to think thanks to what brain structures this is possible.
These among many other functions they are characteristic of the angular rotation of the brain . Throughout this article we will talk about what it is, where it is located, what its functions are and what happens when it does not work properly.
- Related article: "Parts of the human brain (and functions)"
What is the angular spin?
The cerebral twists refer to those mounds formed in the brain, caused by the folds of the cerebral cortex . One of them is the angular rotation, this rotation is located in the posterior area of one of the cerebral convolutions; specifically in the one between the intraparietal sulcus and the horizontal branch of the Silvio sulcus.
In addition, the angular turn corresponds to area 39 of Brodmann , which together with area 22 and 40, form the Wernicke area. This region of the temporal lobe is the so-called auditory associative cortex and its main function is to allow people to understand words and have the ability to produce meaningful discourses.
An injury in this Wernicke area can cause both blindness and verbal deafness . Verbal blindness, or alexia, is the inability to understand written words; whereas verbal deafness, or verbal auditory agnosia, consists in the inability to understand the words heard.
Finally, the angular turn is associated to the interpretation of language as well as to mathematics or cognition , integrating information from other areas of the brain. Next, we will see what implications the angular gyration has on the different brain functions.
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What functions does it play?
As mentioned above, the angular rotation is responsible for aspects related to the production of language, skills for calculation and mathematics, visuospatial ability and some cognitive aspects.
Next, we break down all those functions that the angular rotation plays in the brain these functions presented below.
1. Language
Given its involvement in the Wernicke area functions, the angular turn has a fundamental role in the production of sentences and sentences with meaning .
Likewise, it is one of the areas in charge of written verbal comprehension. That is, thanks to him, people can understand what we read.
2. Calculation
In terms of functions related to calculation and mathematics, the angular turn intervenes in the ability of the person to perform mathematical operations necessary to obtain a result, a value or to solve any type of mathematical problem.
On the other hand, he is also involved in the learning of arithmetic or basic mathematical operations and in the interpretation of numerical quantities and dimensions.
3. Visual
The angular turn intervenes in the spatial focus of attention, that is, in the orientation and spatial search of visual stimuli.
Further, he is also in charge of the visuospatial processing . Thanks to the visuospatial processing, people can identify where objects are located in space, as well as the distance between them or between us and them.
4. Other functions
Finally, there are many functions in which the angular rotation plays a more or less significant role.
Among these functions are:
- Involvement in creative verbal tasks.
- Executive control of behavior .
- Processing of actions sequences.
- Reading and coding of symbols .
- Implication in the Theory of the mind.
Theory of the mind is a term that refers to the ability of the person to perceive and identify the thoughts and purposes of third parties and assign them to the possible person who issues them.
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What if you get injured ?: Gerstmann syndrome
If due to an injury or a neurodegenerative process, the angula turn suffers some type of damage, the above functions can be seriously affected.
Also, there is a specific syndrome associated with an injury or deterioration of this area known as Gerstmann syndrome.
This neurological disorder has been associated with damage or defective activity of the angular gyrus . It is characterized by having very little incidence in the population and by manifesting itself through a set of symptoms related to sensation, perception and with the coding of information coming from the different senses.
- Related article: "Gerstmann syndrome: causes, symptoms and treatment"
Symptoms of Gerstmann syndrome
Among the most representative symptoms of this condition we find the following.
1. Digital agnosia
This is one of the main symptoms of Gerstmann syndrome. This type of agnosia is distinguished by causing in the person the impossibility of distinguishing or identifying the fingers of the hand, both their own and those of others.
This agnosia is not associated with any type of fragility or lack of tactile perception of the fingers. Simply the person is unable to name, choose, identify or orient their own fingers.
2. Acalculia
Acalculia consists of the appearance of difficulties related to mathematical and arithmetic skills. Within this symptom, the person can manifest different types of deficits:
- Inability to perform mathematical operations both written and mental.
- Problems interpreting mathematical signs.
- Problems to maintain or continue orders or numerical series.
- Inability to design sequences.
- Difficulties in correctly using numbers .
3. Agraphia
With regard to written language, people with Gerstmann syndrome suffer from a deficit in ability and ability to write. Also known as agraphy.
These patients show problems in the transcription of words heard, in spontaneous writing and in copying.
Likewise, other symptoms typical of agraphy are:
- Alteration in the ability to trace the letters correctly.
- Lack of symmetry of the letters .
- Changes in the orientation of the lines in the writing.
- Use of several typefaces .
- Invention of own characters.
4. Spatial disorientation
Patients with angular rotation injuries they can also present problems in the distinction of the left and the right . So apparently, there is a deficit in the lateral orientation of the body itself in space.
In addition, these patients present great problems when it comes to identifying the left or right plane of any object, place, spatial situation or even parts of the body itself.
