What is the main function of the prefrontal cortex?

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.

What are the three main parts of the prefrontal cortex?

The ventral prefrontal cortex is composed of areas BA11, BA13, and BA14. (Also see the definition of the orbitofrontal cortex.) The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex contains BA8, including the frontal eye fields. The ventrolateral prefrontal cortex contains BA45 which is part of Broca’s area.

What is the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex responsible for?

The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex has been found to be involved in superordinate control functions for various cognitive tasks such as decision making, novelty detection, working memory, conflict management, mood regulation, theory of mind processing, and timing.

How do I activate my prefrontal cortex?

Games: Word games, memory games, and puzzles are effective ways to strengthen your prefrontal cortex. Learning: Learning something new, like a language, instrument, or other skill, is even more effective than word games at enhancing your prefrontal cortex.

How does the prefrontal cortex affect behavior?

The prefrontal cortex in primates guides behavior by selecting relevant stimuli for the task at hand, mediated through excitatory bidirectional pathways with structures associated with sensory processing, memory and emotions.

How does the prefrontal cortex affect memory?

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is thought to play a critical role by encoding, updating, and maintaining internal representations of task context in working memory. It has also been hypothesized that the encoding of context representations in PFC is regulated by phasic dopamine gating signals.

What can damage the prefrontal cortex?

Damage to the frontal lobes can affect one or more of the functions of this area of your brain. An injury, stroke, infection, or neurodegenerative disease most often causes damage to the frontal lobes.

What happens if the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is damaged?

Likewise, DLPFC is most frequently related to the dysfunction of drive, attention and motivation. Patients with minor DLPFC damage display disinterest in their surroundings and are deprived of spontaneity in language as well as behavior. Patients may also be less alert than normal to people and events they know.

What does dorsolateral mean?

Definition of dorsolateral : of, relating to, or involving both the back and the sides.

What vitamins are good for the prefrontal cortex?

Other dietary components such as omega-3-fatty acid, saturated fat, group B vitamins, antioxidant vitamins (A, C, E), and minerals (iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium) have also been identified as having an impact on brain function and cognitive abilities.