Prefrontal cortex: what is it and what functions does it do

We have known the fundamental role of the prefrontal cortex since, in the middle of the 19th century, the railway worker Phineas Gage suffered a tragic work accident that damaged his frontal lobe and, consequently, his ability to decision.

Subsequently, studies conducted on World War I veterans who had suffered damage in frontal lobe showed that these subjects had great difficulties in managing the new chores. To delve into the person responsible for these problems, in this Psychology-Online article, we will talk about what is the prefrontal cortex and what functions does it do.

Index

1. What is the prefrontal cortex?
2. Areas of the prefrontal cortex
3. Functions of the prefrontal cortex
4. Prefrontal syndrome

The prefrontal cortex of humans has had a development that reaches up to 35% of the length of the entire neocortical mantle and this area is attributed an essential hierarchical position in the explanation of the processes cognitive Indeed, the prefrontal cortex assumes a

So what is the prefrontal cortex? An area of cerebral cortex of the frontal lobes corresponding to the superior and middle frontal gyri and the orbital gyri. It is considered a polymodal associative area, since it receives affirmations from practically all the others cortical areas, thalamus and numerous subcortical centers, among which the most important is the limbic system. The following article will find more information about the cerebral cortex, its functions and parts.

The prefrontal cortex is one of the last parts of the brain that mature. At what age does the prefrontal head develop? The circuits of this part of the crust, the process of clearing some connections and the reinforcement of others, could reach their fullness around the age of 25. Areas such as the prefrontal cortex and the connections between the prefrontal area and other parts of the brain mature more slowly and continue to change throughout adolescence and beyond.

From an anatomical point of view, the prefrontal cortex in humans is defined as isocortical associative area which comprises the Regio frontalis of Brodmann areas 8-12 and 44-47 and areas 24 and 32 of the Regio cingularis. Specifically, the areas of the prefrontal cortex are as follows:

• Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex- Responsible for organizing and planning complex behaviors and higher-level knowledge. The functions of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex are voluntary actions and logically ordered to motor programming, verbal fluency, learning and the use of concepts and strategies.
• Medial prefrontal cortex: another part of the prefrontal cortex that, specifically, plays an important role in both cognitive and emotional motivation.
• Orbitofrontal prefrontal cortex: of the regions of the prefrontal cortex this has the function of regulating and inhibiting, if necessary, the development of stimuli that interfere with the task in progress. It is also responsible for controlling instinctual motivations and pressures.

The prefrontal cortex fulfills all its functions, even in association with the thalamus and the base ganglia, forming the so-called frontosubcortical circuits. In addition, an important functional center for spoken language has been evidenced in the prefrontal cortex, known as the Broca's area, found in the dominant hemisphere, usually the left, at the foot of the third gyrus frontal.

The prefrontal cortex is closely related in its evolutionary aspects to the complexity of behavioral patterns and events of response and adaptation to the social and natural environment of the individual. Therefore, the prefrontal cortex represents a basic structure for social behavior and cognitive processes.

According to recent conceptions, the prefrontal cortex is the seat of decision-making processes and of ethics. The main functions of the prefrontal cortex are as follows:

• Regulation of emotions- The prefrontal cortex constantly modulates our thoughts, feelings, and actions through sophisticated attention and decision-making processes. Find out more about how to make difficult decisions in life.
• Planning and organization of future actions depending on the consequences that they entail. This area of ​​the brain is activated in tasks that involve a delay between the stimulus and the behavioral response or that depend on recent experience to complete them.
• Work memory: one of the main functions of the central cortex is working or short-term memory. If you wonder what type of memory involves the prefrontal cortex, specifically, it is responsible for temporary memory that stores information for a short period of time. This intervenes in complex processes such as language or reasoning. Discover how to improve short term memory.
• Another function of the prefrontal cortex is awareness of pain.

Prefrontal cortex lesions

The proof that the prefrontal cortex plays a crucial role in all the aforementioned functions is the observation of the effects caused by lesions of the prefrontal cortex. Let's see what they are:

• Injury to part of the frontal lobe: they lead to disorders in the initiation and planning of activities, emotional state and memory. They are also associated with complex personality changes.
• Destruction of the most rostral and basal portions: causes hyperactivity, lack of rest and autonomous and emotional reactions.
• Ablation of zones 24 and 32: leads to docility and reduction of social contacts.
• Bilateral injury to the prefrontal cortex: produces an immediate reduction in intellectual capacity and ethical standards.

Prefrontal syndrome is described as a pathology characterized by inappropriate responses to social situations, disinhibition, impulsivity, lack of initiative, reduced flexibility, inability to plan programs for the future, reduced capacity for argumentation and difficulty in carrying out behaviors complex. In particular, changes in emotional tone can be associated, characterized by a lower emotional reaction, a greater emotional lability or one poor regulation of one's emotional expressions.

More recently, the prefrontal syndrome has been divided into three fundamental types related to different pathological lesions. The types of prefrontal syndrome are:

• Dysexecutive type: decreases the capacity for judgment, planning and perception.
• Uninhibited type: causes uninhibited behavior with poor impulse control and inhibitory brakes and also leads to irritability.
• Listless type: produces less spontaneity, less verbal productivity and less motor behavior.

Finally, you can watch the following video that talks about the prefrontal cortex.

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

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