occipital lobe

noun

: the posterior lobe of each cerebral hemisphere that bears the visual cortex and has the form of a 3-sided pyramid

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Here the temporal and occipital lobes work together to register information about the image itself as well as its visual layout, including things like perspective and scale. Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 9 Mar. 2023 When people look at a photo, the temporal lobes predominantly register information about the contents of the image (people, objects, or scenery), whereas the occipital lobe predominantly registers information about layout and perspective, such as the scale and position of the contents. Bykamal Nahas, science.org, 7 Mar. 2023 Brain activity, predominantly in the occipital lobe, provided enough information to re-create the layout and perspective of the photos being viewed, the researchers found. Bykamal Nahas, science.org, 7 Mar. 2023 In blind people, for instance, the occipital lobe strongly responds to touch. Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 26 July 2020 For example, if the visual defect is caused by dysfunction of the brain's occipital lobe (the primary vision area), surgery will not correct it. Dagny Zhu, Verywell Health, 26 Jan. 2023 The condition synesthesia is linked to the occipital lobe. Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 28 Jan. 2022 The occipital lobe is where the brain processes vision. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 27 July 2022 These MRIs showed neurological connections between the dog’s occipital lobe and olfactory bulb. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 27 July 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'occipital lobe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1861, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of occipital lobe was in 1861

Dictionary Entries Near occipital lobe

Cite this Entry

“Occipital lobe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/occipital%20lobe. Accessed 6 Jun. 2023.

Medical Definition

occipital lobe

noun
: the posterior lobe of each cerebral hemisphere that is separated medially from the parietal lobe by the parieto-occipital sulcus, is indistinctly separated more laterally from the temporal and parietal lobes, bears the visual areas, and has the form of a 3-sided pyramid

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