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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Studies show that people with depression tend to have less brain activity than normal in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and more brain activity than normal in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Brenda Goodman, CNN, 1 Nov. 2024 Warm parenting during middle childhood (age 5) was associated with more amygdala centrality—meaning the amygdala played a more important role in the processing of emotions—and less prefrontal cortex centrality, meaning this part of the brain played a less important role. Hatty Willmoth, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024 Practicing deliberate calm prevents the amygdala from triggering cortisol release, allowing the prefrontal cortex to function optimally and enabling rational decision-making. Dr. Adil Dalal, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024 The region—called the ventral medial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC)—may produce a fundamental model of oneself and place it in mental time. Robert Martone, Scientific American, 21 Dec. 2021 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

Dictionary Entries Near prefrontal cortex

Cite this Entry

“Prefrontal cortex.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prefrontal%20cortex. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.

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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