What cognitive function is affected by damage to the temporal lobe in the brain?

The correct answer is the ability to comprehend language. Damage to the temporal lobe, particularly in areas such as Wernicke's area, is known to significantly impact language processing. This region is critical for understanding spoken and written language, enabling us to make sense of verbal communication. Individuals with damage in this area may experience difficulties in language comprehension, leading to challenges in understanding both what others say and what they read.

In contrast, while the temporal lobe is also involved in other functions such as facial recognition, which is primarily linked to the fusiform gyrus located within this lobe, the specific function related to language comprehension is more directly affected by damage here. The other options pertain to functions that involve different areas of the brain: performing calculations relates to the parietal lobe; remembering motor skills mostly involves the cerebellum and basal ganglia; thus, comprehension of language remains the most prominent cognitive function impacted specifically by temporal lobe damage.