What do the prefrontal cortices do?
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays a central role in cognitive control functions, and dopamine in the PFC modulates cognitive control, thereby influencing attention, impulse inhibition, prospective memory, and cognitive flexibility. Executive functions (e.g., planning, working memory, flexibility, and processing speed)
What is the prefrontal amygdala?
In the brain, the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and amygdala are extensively interconnected and work in concert to tune the expression of emotions, such as fear and anxiety1,2,3,4.
What is frontal cortex function?
It functions in close association with other regions of the brain that make up cerebral systems specifically designed for individual mental tasks. It participates with other brain regions in aspects of learning and memory, at- tention, and motivation, in part through its central role in working memory.
What is PFC in psychology?
The prefrontal cortex is a part of the brain located at the front of the frontal lobe. It is implicated in a variety of complex behaviors, including planning, and greatly contributes to personality development.
How does the amygdala affect behavior?
The amygdala is commonly thought to form the core of a neural system for processing fearful and threatening stimuli (4), including detection of threat and activation of appropriate fear-related behaviors in response to threatening or dangerous stimuli.
How does the size of the prefrontal cortex relate to sentience?
The size and number of connections in the prefrontal cortex could relate directly to sentience, as the prefrontal cortex in humans occupies a far larger percentage of the brain than any other animal. The left and right halves of the prefrontal cortex appear to become more interconnected in response to consistent aerobic exercise.
Are there any Brodmann areas in the prefrontal cortex?
In terms of Brodmann areas, the prefrontal cortex traditionally includes areas 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 24, 25, 32, 44, 45, 46, and 47, however, not all of these areas are strictly granular – 44 is dysgranular, caudal 11 and orbital 47 are agranular.
Are there any drugs that help the prefrontal cortex?
There is much current research devoted to understanding the role of the prefrontal cortex in neurological disorders. Clinical trials have begun on certain drugs that have been shown to improve prefrontal cortex function, including guanfacine, which acts through the alpha-2A adrenergic receptor.
What is the integrative theory of the prefrontal cortex?
Miller and Cohen proposed an Integrative Theory of Prefrontal Cortex Function, that arises from the original work of Goldman-Rakic and Fuster. The two theorize that “cognitive control stems from the active maintenance of patterns of activity in the prefrontal cortex that represents goals and means to achieve them.