The following terms help to illustrate the different areas of the brain and the effect that suffering a traumatic brain injury to these areas may have on the patient.

Brainstem

This area is where the brain connects to the spinal cord. Damage to this area of the brain may result in death as this area controls critical functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. This center is also responsible for arousal, or the state of being awake and alert.

Cerebellum

This part of the brain is located at the back of the brain. Its purpose is to coordinate balance and muscle coordination. Damage to this area of the brain can affect the patient’s ability to eat, walk, talk, and perform various other functions.

Frontal Lobe

This area is located in the front of the brain. The frontal lobe is involved in regulating behaviour and emotion, the "higher functions" of the brain. Damage to this area of the brain may result in personality changes, difficulty in planning and organizing, and problem solving.

Occipital Lobe

This area of the brain is located at the back of the brain and is involved in processing visual information. Damage to this area may result in visual defects, including the ability to recognize shapes and colors.

Parietal Lobes

There are two parietal lobes, divided into right and left sides, which are located behind the frontal lobe at the top of the brain. Damage to the right parietal lobe can result in difficulty navigating, as this lobe is responsible for how the patient perceives their environment. The left parietal lobe is responsible for speech, and damage to this area may interrupt the patient’s ability to understand language, both written and spoken.

The parietal lobes also have within them the primary sensory cortex that controls sensation of touch and pressure. Fine sensation is affected if the patient has difficulty judging sizes, weights, or shapes.

Temporal Lobes

There are also two temporal lobes, located on each side of the brain at ear level. These lobes allow the patient to distinguish between sounds and scents. They are also believed to be responsible for short-term memory. The right lobe is responsible for visual memory, while the left is responsible for memory of words and names.