The medial area of the brain, also known as the posterior or backside of the brain, is referred to medically as the occipital lobe. The occipital lobe is located at the back of the skull, and it forms part of the cerebrum, the largest part of the brain. The occipital lobe is responsible for the processing of visual information.
The occipital lobe is divided into two parts. The primary visual cortex is located in the middle of the lobe; it is responsible for processing visual information from the eyes. The extrastriate cortex is located on the outer edges of the lobe and is responsible for more complex visual processing, such as identifying shapes and colors.
The occipital lobe is vital to vision and visual processing. It is responsible for the interpretation of visual information, allowing a person to recognize objects, identify colors, and make sense of the world around them. Without the occipital lobe, a person would be unable to distinguish between objects and would be unable to appreciate the beauty of the world.
Damage to the occipital lobe can result in vision loss and other debilitating problems. Damage to the primary visual cortex may cause a person to experience a partial loss of vision, while damage to the extrastriate cortex can cause more severe vision problems, such as an inability to recognize faces or colors.
Because of its importance to vision and visual processing, the medical term for the most posterior area of the brain is the occipital lobe.