We explain the anatomy and what this part of the human brain is responsible for.
Planning, making decisions, solving the problems that the environment demands of us and many more actions are essential for the survival of the human being, as well as being functions that differentiate us from other animal species. But what is behind all this?
The prefrontal cortex, in addition to being responsible for these functions, is responsible for many other aspects, despite being the area that takes the longest to reach full maturity. Let’s take a closer look at everything that this important region does for primates like us .
The prefrontal cortex: what is it like and where is it located?
The prefrontal cortex, also called the prefrontal cortex, is a brain region that is located in the frontal lobe, close to the face. It is a tertiary or multimodal association area, since information from other brain areas is coordinated in it.
This part of the brain represents about 30% of the cerebral cortex . It is the brain region that takes the longest to fully develop, reaching its full maturation between 20 and 25 years of age.
This is the most developed area in primates, which can be related to its wide and flexible behavioral repertoire. It plays an important role since it is involved in cognitive processes and is behind executive functions, being of vital importance in the adaptation of the individual and the ability to solve cognitively complex problems. It is also a region involved in the development of personality and behavior.
The prefrontal cortex establishes connections with other brain areas, both cortical and subcortical, being able to highlight the limbic system, the hippocampus, the basal ganglia, the thalamus and the other cerebral lobes. Thus, it receives and sends projections to and from almost all cortical systems, both sensory and motor.
Anatomy of this region
The prefrontal cortex constitutes the following Brodmann areas: 8, 9, 10, 11, 44, 45, 46, and 47 , being a very extensive region with many structures below it. Next we will see the main parts of this cortical region:
1. Orbitofrontal cortex
Specifically, it constitutes areas 10, 11 and 47 in the human cortex .
It is involved above all in social behavior, especially in the inhibition of behaviors considered inappropriate in society and the control of aggressiveness.
2. Dorsolateral cortex
Although neuroanatomists disagree, it has been accepted that the dorsolateral cortex is mostly found in Brodmann’s areas 9 and 46 .
- Recommended article: “The 47 areas of Brodmann (and their characteristics)”
It is one of the most developed parts of the brain in the human species. It processes cognitive information and is directly linked to executive functions, that is, it has an important role in event planning, problem solving, memorizing…
It has also been related to the human being’s ability to be self-aware.
3. Ventromedial cortex
As with the dorsolateral cortex, there is considerable disagreement about the areas in which the ventromedial cortex is located, although it has been said that it would involve areas 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 25 and 32.
This part of the prefrontal cortex is especially involved in the processing of emotions , both in their recognition and in their expression.
It has also been related to the ability to motivate, control and inhibit responses issued to the outside and creativity.
Associated functions
As we have already been suggesting, the prefrontal cortex is involved in multiple functions , which are essential for human life in society and also for their survival, in addition to differentiating and characterizing it from other species that do not possess them.
1. Executive functions
These are the best known functions associated with the prefrontal.
Executive functions are understood as the set of cognitive skills and aptitudes through which the individual adapts to the environment, allowing him to meet the demands that the environment demands of him.
It could be said that these functions act as if they were a mental notebook, since they suppose the capacity to represent information that is not present in the environment at a given moment.
Within the executive functions we find decision making, anticipation, working memory, planning, behavior inhibition, goal setting, flexibility when applying a strategy and the ideation of abstract concepts.
2. Social behavior
The prefrontal cortex is involved in social behavior. Through interaction with other people, each human being learns how to behave appropriately before others.
This region of the cortex fulfills this role, allowing the regulation of expressions and social behaviors to make them more adapted to the demands of society.
It is also important in the manifestation of empathy and in the inhibition of behavior, taking into account the possible negative implications that it may entail.
3. Emotions
It is true that the limbic system is the main structure that is responsible for processing emotions and their manifestation, however, the prefrontal cortex also plays a very important role in this regard.
The main function of the prefrontal cortex with respect to emotionality is to perceive which is the most appropriate way to express emotions, translating them into physiological reactions or exercising conscious control over them.
4. Motivation
Being able to develop a strategy to reach a specific goal is meaningless if you don’t feel an impulse to reach it.
That is why this brain region plays not only an important role in planning actions, but it is also responsible for us having the motivation to try to fulfill something that we have proposed, directing behavior and cognitive resources in its achievement.
5. Personality development
Some aspects of personality are related to the prefrontal region.
In essence, a person’s personality is governed by behavior patterns that are more or less stable over time, and aspects such as extraversion, conscientiousness, or agreeableness are linked to the functioning of the prefrontal cortex.
Injuries and disorders of the prefrontal cortex
Research has attempted to understand how injuries to this region affect a person’s behavior and personality . Not only is it involved in understanding the long-term effects of performing certain acts, but it is also behind the need for immediate gratification.
It has also been associated with loss of emotional expression, especially at the facial level, behavioral inhibition, personality changes , antisocial behavior, hypersexuality, hyperorality (using the mouth to explore objects) and planning difficulties. Deficits in creative thinking have also been seen.
Some disorders that have been associated with problems in the prefrontal cortex, especially dysfunctions in this region, are: bipolar disorder, schizophrenia , Huntington’s chorea, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and behavioral conditions associated with head injuries.
It has also been suggested that it could be involved in other psychological problems, such as depression, anxiety, self-injurious behavior, suicide attempts, sociopathy, and substance addiction.
The case of Phineas Gage
One of the best known cases of injuries to the prefrontal region is that of Phineas Gage , a railway worker who suffered an (un)lucky accident.
The events occurred on September 13, 1848, while Gage was working. After detonating a large rock with the intention of laying the train tracks, a long bar pierced his head, without killing him, but affecting his prefrontal lobe, which was discovered post-mortem, and causing him to lose an eye.
He managed to recover from the injuries, which had only slightly deformed his face, without even making him lose his attractiveness. He also hadn’t lost his speech, memory, or motor skills.
What the railway worker had lost was his personality. After the accident, Phineas Gage practically became a different person: aggressive, impulsive, hostile, unable to wait a single second or plan actions. Socially he was quite incompetent and was not able to keep jobs.
His case has been of great importance because it is about these natural experiments, which would be ethically unfeasible, that allow knowing what functions certain brain areas perform.
In other cases in which there has also been a prefrontal injury, it has been seen that people with this type of injury feel a great need for immediate gratification, being unable to wait and control themselves.
Bibliographic references
- Goldberg, E. (2009). The executive brain: frontal lobes and the civilized mind. Criticism.
- Jódar, M (Ed) et al (2014). Neuropsychology. Barcelona, Editorial UOC.
- Kandel, ER; Schwartz, JH; Jessell, T.M. (2001). Principles of Neuroscience. Madrid: MacGraw Hill.
- Kolb , B. & Wishaw , I. (2006). Human neuropsychology. Madrid: Pan American Medical Publishing House.
- Lapuente, R. (2010). Neuropsychology. Madrid, Plaza edition.
- Pineda, D. (2000) The executive function and its disorders. In: Journal of Neurology, 30 (8) 764.
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.