There are 9 main areas of the brain that can be affected by a stroke. Each area of the brain controls different functions, and each person's brain is structured slightly differently.
That's whythe effects of a strokevary greatly from person to person. That is why therapists and doctors often say:every hit is differentso every recovery will be different."
You are about to discover which areas of the brain can be affected by a stroke and what its most common side effects are. It is by no means a foolproof formula, but it does give you a general idea of what to expect with each type of stroke.
Use the links below to go directly to any section:
- Frontal lobe stroke
- Parietal lobe stroke
- temporal lobe stroke
- Occipital lobe stroke
- Brainstem cerebrovascular accident
- Cerebellar stroke
- hill bump
- Blow of the basal ganglia.
- Internal capsule hit
Before we discuss the areas of the brain affected by a stroke, we will discuss what a stroke is and what is the difference between a cortical and subcortical stroke.
what is a stroke?
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is disturbed. This can happen as a result of a blood clot that blocks an artery and stops blood flow to an area of the brain (calledIschemic stroke) or rupture of a cerebral artery that causes bleeding within the brain (so-calledhemorrhagic attack).
During a stroke, the affected areas of the brain do not receive enough oxygen-rich blood. As a result, brain tissue begins to die. Depending on the area of the brain affected by the stroke, this damage will result in changes in some sensory, motor or cognitive functions.
While it is impossible to revive dead brain cells, recovery is possibleneuroplasticidadThis process allows healthy parts of the brain to take over functions damaged by the stroke.
The goal of stroke rehabilitation is to restore or compensate for persistent side effects to their full potential. These effects vary from person to person based on the size and location of the stroke.
Below, we'll go over the different areas of the brain affected by a stroke so you can better understand what to expect.
Cortical Strokes and Subcortical Strokes.
Before delving into the different areas of the brain affected by a stroke, it is convenient to know the difference between cortical and subcortical strokes.
The cerebral cortex/cerebrum is a large part of the brain that includes 4 lobes: the frontal lobe, the parietal lobe, the occipital lobe, and the temporal lobe. Strokes in these areas are called cortical strokes.
In addition to the brain, there are subcortical structures that lie deep within the brain. Strokes in these areas of the brain are also called subcortical strokes.
The arteries that supply the subcortical areas of the brain are smaller and more delicate. As such, a subcortical hemorrhagic stroke can occur when these delicate arteries rupture due to high blood pressure or other complications. When an ischemic stroke occurs in subcortical areas it is called:lacunar stroke.
There are many differences between cortical and subcortical strokes. For example, cortical strokes often affect higher level functioning; and hisunusualSubcortical cerebrovascular accidents causing language difficulties.
We'll discuss other patterns below!
Areas of the brain affected by a stroke and symptoms
Next, you will learn about the different parts of the brain that can be affected by a stroke. You'll find a brief summary of the effects of each type of stroke, and you can click on the link in each section for more information.
The effects of a stroke will vary from person to person, so it is best to familiarize yourself with:full list of side effectsstroke to get an even better idea of what to expect after a stroke.
These are the main areas of the brain that can be affected by a stroke:
1. Frontal lobe stroke
Almostone thirdThe brain is made up of the frontal lobe. It should come as no surprise that the frontal lobe plays a role in many functions. Motor skills, executive functioning, speech, language, and social skills are controlled to some degree by the frontal lobe.
The effects of a frontal lobe stroke (a type of cortical stroke) include motor deficits, problems with problem solving and judgment, behavior changes, and speech difficulties (aphasia, dysarthria or apraxia of speech), among others.
Learn more about frontal lobe stroke »
2. Parietal lobe stroke
The most common is parietal lobe stroke.sensory interpretationalong with language skills and spatial awareness. Some side effects of this cortical stroke include hemineglect, difficulty writing (agraphia), difficulty reading (alexia), difficulty speaking (aphasia), and others.
Learn more about parietal lobe stroke »
3. Temporal lobe stroke
The temporal lobe, also part of the cerebrum, is the area of the brain that controls language comprehension, hearing, and other sensory processes. A temporal lobe stroke can affect hearing, vision, and understanding of speech, as well as other side effects.
Learn more about temporal lobe stroke »
4. Trace of the occipital lobe.
The occipital lobe, the last type of cortical stroke, plays an important role in vision. As a result, a stroke of the occipital lobe often occurs.vision difficultiessuch as loss of central vision, cortical blindness, visual hallucinations, or other side effects.
Learn more about occipital lobe stroke »
5. Brainstem Stroke
The brainstem is made up of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata. A stroke in any of these areas is considered a brain stem stroke.
The brain stem controls basic bodily functions such as breathing, sweating, and consciousness. Therefore, common changes caused by a brain stem stroke includecoma, shortness of breath, and difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), among other side effects.
Learn more about stroke »
6. Cerebellar stroke
A cerebellar stroke is called a cerebellar stroke. The cerebellum controls some sensory functions and voluntary movements (especially balance and coordination). The effects of a cerebellar stroke can includeataxia, balance problems and sensory problems, among others.
Learn more about cerebellar stroke »
7. Hill Shot
When a stroke affects the thalamus, it is called a thalamic stroke. One of the biggest effects of thalamic stroke is sensory problems, as the thalamus transmits 98% of all sensory information. Numbness and sensory issues are extremely common afterhill bump. Central post-stroke pain, a type of chronic pain, is also common after thalamic stroke.
Learn more about thalamic stroke »
8. Tracing of the basal ganglia.
The basal ganglia are most associated with emotion, voluntary muscle control, cognition, and memory. Therefore, basal ganglia strokes often occur.emotional dullness, post-stroke depression and motor disorders, among others.
Learn more about basal ganglia stroke »
9. Stroke of internal capsule
The internal capsule is another area located deep within the brain. Play an important role in movement. Therefore, motor disorders are the most common result of an internal capsule stroke. If motor impairment is the only side effect, this type of stroke is also called:pure motor race.
Learn more about the internal capsule passage »
Left Hemisphere Versus Right Hemisphere Stroke
In addition to the different lobes and structures, the brain is also divided into two halves, called hemispheres.
In addition to the different areas of the brain that can be affected by a stroke, it is also helpful to look at the differences between the two hemispheres.
In general, the left hemisphere controls language and logical reasoning; while the right hemisphere is believed to control creativity and object recognition. Therefore, language difficulties after a stroke are often associatedleft hemisphere strokes.
Also, each hemisphere controls movement on the opposite side of the body. Typically, a left-hemisphere stroke causes motor impairment on the right side of the body; whileright hemisphere strokeIt is likely to damage the left side of the body.
When a stroke affects both hemispheres, it is possible to maintain motor involvement on both sides of the body.
The location of the stroke affects recovery.
If you've had a stroke, it's important to talk to your neurologist. Ask about the location of the stroke, as this can help you identify and understand what side effects to expect.
Once you understand the location and effects of a stroke, rehabilitation can proceed more efficiently.
Herecovery process after a strokeIt is unique for each person since each stroke is different. The most important thing is to never lose hope.
Continue rehabilitating to be ableas close as possible to full recovery from stroke.