Processing sensory input[edit]

Auditory
Adjacent areas in the superior, posterior, and lateral parts of the temporal lobes are involved
in high-level auditory processing. The temporal lobe is involved in
primary auditory perception, such as hearing, and holds the primary auditory cortex.[6] The
primary auditory cortex receives sensory information from the ears and secondary areas
process the information into meaningful units such as speech and words. [6] The superior
temporal gyrus includes an area (within the lateral fissure) where auditory signals from
the cochlea first reach the cerebral cortex and are processed by the primary auditory cortex
in the left temporal lobe.[citation needed]
Visual
The areas associated with vision in the temporal lobe interpret the meaning of visual stimuli
and establish object recognition. [citation needed] The ventral part of the temporal cortices appear to
be involved in high-level visual processing of complex stimuli such as faces (fusiform gyrus)
and scenes (parahippocampal gyrus).[citation needed] Anterior parts of this ventral stream for visual
processing are involved in object perception and recognition. [6]

Animation showing the position of the human left temporal lobe

Language recognition[edit]
The temporal lobe holds the primary auditory cortex, which is important for the processing
of semantics in both language and vision in humans. Wernicke's area, which spans the
region between temporal and parietal lobes, plays a key role (in tandem with Broca's area in
the frontal lobe) in language comprehension,[7] whether spoken language or signed
language. FMRI imaging shows these portions of the brain are activated by signed or
spoken languages.[8][9] These areas of the brain are active in children's language
acquisition[10] whether accessed via hearing a spoken language, watching a signed
language, or via hand-over-hand tactile versions of a signed language [11]
The functions of the left temporal lobe are not limited to low-level perception but extend to
comprehension, naming, and verbal memory.[12]

New memories[edit]
See also: Emotion and memory
The medial temporal lobes (near the sagittal plane) are thought to be involved
in encoding declarative long term memory.[4]: 194–199  The medial temporal lobes include
the hippocampi, which are essential for memory storage, therefore damage to this area can
result in impairment in new memory formation leading to permanent or
temporary anterograde amnesia.[4]: 194–199