prefrontal cortex

noun

: the gray matter of the anterior part of the frontal lobe that is highly developed in humans and plays a role in the regulation of complex cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning

Examples of prefrontal cortex in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Devices like Exomind, a form of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), target the brain’s dorsolateral prefrontal cortex—the center of executive function, mood regulation, and attention. Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 9 Dec. 2025 Because children's prefrontal cortex — the part of the brain responsible for impulse control — does not fully develop until around age 25, young users are particularly vulnerable to highly engaging AI systems because the bots create a dopamine response, Prinstein explained. Brit McCandless Farmer, CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025 Stress can lead to shrinkage in specific areas of the brain, such as the hippocampus, while also causing negative changes in the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala. Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 6 Nov. 2025 The overthinking loop, the freezing, the feeling young and overwhelmed—that's her prefrontal cortex getting hijacked by limbic system activation. Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prefrontal cortex

Word History

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prefrontal cortex was in 1892

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Cite this Entry

“Prefrontal cortex.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prefrontal%20cortex. Accessed 25 Dec. 2025.

Medical Definition

prefrontal cortex

noun
: the gray matter of the anterior part of the frontal lobe that is highly developed in humans and plays a role in the regulation of complex cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning
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