The Brain

Temporal Lobes

Functions:

Hearing ability Memory aquisition Some visual perceptions
Catagorization of objects.

Observed Problems:

Difficulty in recognizing faces (Prosopagnosia). Difficulty in understanding spoken words (Wernicke's Aphasia). Disturbance with selective attention to what we see and hear. Difficulty with identification of, and verbalization about objects. Short-term memory loss. Interference with long-term memory Increased or decreased interest in sexual behavior. Inability to catagorize objects (Catagorization). Right lobe damage can cause persistant talking.
Increased aggressive behavior.

Kolb & Wishaw (1990) have identified eight principle symptoms of temporal lobe damage: 1) disturbance of auditory sensation and perception, 2) disturbance of selective attention of auditory and visual input, 3) disorders of visual perception, 4) impaired organization and categorization of verbal material, 5) disturbance of language comprehension, 6) impaired long-term memory, 7) altered personality and affective behavior, 8) altered sexual behavior.

Selective attention to visual or auditory input is common with damage to the temporal lobes (Milner, 1968). Left side lesions result in decreased recall of verbal and visual content, including speech perception. Right side lesions result in decreased recognition of tonal sequences and many musical abilities. Right side lesions can also effect recognition of visual content (e.g. recall of faces).

The temporal lobes are involved in the primary organization of sensory input (Read, 1981). Individuals with temporal lobes lesions have difficulty placing words or pictures into categories.

Language can be effected by temporal lobe damage. Left temporal lesions disturb recognition of words. Right temporal damage can cause a loss of inhibition of talking.

The temporal lobes are highly associated with memory skills. Left temporal lesions result in impaired memory for verbal material. Right side lesions result in recall of non-verbal material, such as music and drawings.

Seizures of the temporal lobe can have dramatic effects on an individual's personality. Temporal lobe epilepsy can cause perseverative speech, paranoia and aggressive rages (Blumer and Benson, 1975). Severe damage to the temporal lobes can also alter sexual behavior (e.g. increase in activity) (Blumer and Walker, 1975).

Common tests for temporal lobe function are: Rey-Complex Figure (visual memory) and Wechsler Memory Scale - Revised (verbal memory).
Centre for Neuro Skills

When you listen to music, your temporal lobes are hard at work, because they are the part of the brain that lets you distinguish the volume and frequency of sounds. The upper portions of your temporal lobes are also the part of the brain that lets you understand the meaning of the lyrics. The temporal lobes are also involved in forming and recalling memories. The right temporal lobe is more involved in visual memory, while the left is more involved is more involved in verbal memory.
Henri Laborit (1914-1995)

References
"Temporal Lobes," CNS - TBI Resource Guide, World Wide Web.
"Temporal Lobes," researched, and written by:Bruno Dubuc, Graphic design:Denis Paquet, World Wide Web.