frontal lobe

American  

noun

Anatomy.

1. the anterior part of each cerebral hemisphere, in front of the central sulcus.

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frontal lobe British  

noun

1. anatomy the anterior portion of each cerebral hemisphere, situated in front of the central sulcus

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frontal lobe Scientific  

/ frŭn′tl /

1. The largest and forwardmost lobe of each cerebral hemisphere, responsible for the control of skilled motor activity, including speech. Mood and the ability to think are also controlled by the frontal lobe.

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Etymology

Origin of frontal lobe

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

“I think there’s something to be said for frontal lobe development,” she says.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 25, 2026

In typical cases, the exposure damages the brain’s frontal lobe, which slows cognition, impairs impulse control, restricts dopamine production and affects mood.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 22, 2025

I feel like—and I think it comes with turning 25—but my frontal lobe has developed and it’s like, “All right, time to be an adult now.”

From Slate • Dec. 11, 2025

He was knocked off his motorbike on a dual carriageway in London five years ago, leaving him in hospital for three weeks, with a bleed to the frontal lobe of his brain.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2024

Put another way, says Dr. Atchley, the frontal lobe is crucial in helping people inhibit impulses, like choosing the chocolate cake, which is a very basic form of decision making.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel