The fusiform gyrus is part of the temporal lobe. It is also known as the (discontinuous) occipitotemporal gyrus. Other sources have the fusiform gyrus above the occipitotemporal gyrus and underneath the parahippocampal gyrus.

Function

There is still some dispute over the functionalities of this area, but there's relative consensus on these five:

1. processing of color information
2. face and body recognition (see Fusiform face area)
3. word recognition
4. number recognition
5. abstraction

Some researchers believe that the fusiform gyrus may be related to the disorder known as prosopagnosia, or face blindness.

Function in Synaesthetes

Recent research has seen activation of the fusiform gyrus during subjective grapheme-color perception in people with Synaesthesia.

The Fusiform Gyrus in Popular Culture

Police inspector Beate Lønn in the Harry Hole detective series by Jo Nesbø is supposed to have a well developed fusiform gyrus, explaining why she has an outstanding ability to recognize the villains from surveillance cameras and police photos.

References

External links

• - "Cerebral Hemisphere, Inferior View"
• Location at mattababy.org
• at ted.com