Cortical area · one in each half of the brain
Inferior temporal gyrus
Also called ITG, Inferotemporal cortex, Brodmann area 20
Names what you see: the end of the brain's "what is that?" pathway.
The lowest ridge on the side of the temporal lobe, curving onto its underside. It is the final stop of the "what" vision pathway, where shapes and colors turn into objects you recognize: a cup, a dog, a car. Cells here respond to whole objects, whether they are near or far, big or small. It also links what you see to what you know and remember.
Where it is
Along the bottom edge of the temporal lobe, where the side of the lobe curves underneath. It sits below the middle temporal gyrus and next to the fusiform gyrus on the underside.
What it does
Recognizing objects
It identifies what things are, from keys and cups to animals and cars.
Same object, any view
It recognizes an object whether it is near or far, or seen from the front or the side.
Visual memory
It helps store what familiar things look like, so you can pick them out later.
Sorting into categories
It helps group things into kinds, like animals versus tools.
Think of it as a museum guide who glances at a shape and instantly says, "That's a teapot."
Works with
- Lateral occipital cortexThis area builds object shapes and passes them forward to be named.
- Fusiform gyrusIts neighbor on the underside specializes in faces and written words.
- Primary visual cortexThe "what" pathway starts in the primary visual cortex and ends here after several steps.
- Entorhinal cortexIt sends what it sees toward the memory system, so you can remember objects later.
- Prefrontal cortexThe front of the brain uses its object information to make decisions, like "is that my bag?".
When it goes wrong
Visual agnosia
Damage along this pathway can cause visual agnosia: people see clearly but cannot tell what an object is until they touch it or hear it.
For learning only, not medical advice. If you have a health concern, talk to a doctor.
Surprising facts
- Scientists led by Charles Gross found cells in the monkey version of this area that fired strongly at the sight of faces, and others that responded to hands.
- You can tell whether a photo contains an animal in about 150 milliseconds, less than a sixth of a second, and much of that work happens along this pathway.
Where the name comes from
"Inferior" means "lower", so this is the lowest ridge of the temporal lobe.
Quick quiz
3 questions. Your answers are saved and come back in your daily review.
Which of these is a job of the inferior temporal gyrus?
Show the answer
Recognizing objects. It identifies what things are, from keys and cups to animals and cars.
Recognizing objects. It identifies what things are, from keys and cups to animals and cars.
The inferior temporal gyrus is part of which larger structure?
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Temporal lobe. It belongs to the temporal lobe.
Temporal lobe. It belongs to the temporal lobe.
Which part fits this description? "Like a museum guide who glances at a shape and instantly says, "That's a teapot.""
Show the answer
Inferior temporal gyrus. It is the inferior temporal gyrus. Names what you see: the end of the brain's "what is that?" pathway.
Inferior temporal gyrus. It is the inferior temporal gyrus. Names what you see: the end of the brain's "what is that?" pathway.
These parts now come back in your daily review, just before you would forget them.
Practice it and its neighbors in 3DSources
- Extrastriate Cortex, OpenStax, Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience
- Physiology, Cerebral Cortex Functions, StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf
- Agnosia, StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf
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Explore the inferior temporal gyrus in 3D
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