Temporal lobe signs

The features of temporal lobe lesions are often slight.

Involving the auditory cortex:

• cortical deafness, may be complete if the lesion is bilateral - rare
• involving the surrounding association areas:
  • in the dominant hemisphere - Wernicke's aphasia
  • in the non-dominant hemisphere - amusia
• tinnitus, auditory hallucinations
• temporal lobe epilepsy - complex partial seizure in the temporal lobes

Involving the middle and inferior temporal gyri:

• disturbance of memory and learning - deja vu, jamais vu, post-ictal amnesia

Involving the limbic lobe:

• aggressive or antisocial behaviour
• inability to acquire new memories
• olfactory hallucinations, e.g. burning rubber

Involving the optic radiation:

• upper homonymous quadrantanopia