prefrontal cortex

noun

Updated on: 30 Mar 2018

Definition of prefrontal cortex

: 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

Recent Examples of prefrontal cortex from the Web

During REM sleep, some areas of the brain are deactivated, specifically, the prefrontal cortex, the region of the brain associated with logic, executive function, decision-making.

— linda rodriguez mcrobbie, BostonGlobe.com, "How our dreams made us human," 23 Mar. 2018
When trauma occurs, the prefrontal cortex often shuts down, and more primitive parts of the brain take over.

— kathy dobie, Daily Intelligencer, "To Catch a Predator," 16 Mar. 2018
The amygdala, a part of the brain in charge of emotional responses, becomes more active and can overrule the prefrontal cortex, which is in charge of nuanced cognitive functions such as complex decision-making.

— william wan and amy ellis nutt, Washington Post, "Why didn't the officer rush into Florida's Parkland school mass shooting?," 23 Feb. 2018
This involves the prefrontal cortex, where executive decisions are made about whether or not to override the strong urges to drink.

— jamie smolen, chicagotribune.com, "How to know when holiday drinking is hurting your brain," 23 Dec. 2017
The addiction cycle disrupts the normal function of some of these networks in three areas of the brain – the basal ganglia, the extended amygdala and the prefrontal cortex.

— jamie smolen, chicagotribune.com, "How to know when holiday drinking is hurting your brain," 23 Dec. 2017
The rationale behind the law is that the prefrontal cortex of the brain, which controls impulse control, is still developing even into early adulthood.

— melody gutierrez, San Francisco Chronicle, "37 years after brutal SF crime, inmate paroled under state youth-offender law," 15 Dec. 2017
The Forensic Experiential Trauma Interview technique teaches that such details are stored in the prefrontal cortex of the brain, which shuts down during traumatic events.

— zolan kanno-youngs, WSJ, "The NYPD’s Real SVU Is Changing Its Approach to Sex Crimes," 10 Dec. 2017
The timing makes sense, since the prefrontal cortex and frontal lobes are implicated in the emergence of diseases like depression and schizophrenia.

— alexandra sifferlin, Time, "Why Teenage Brains Are So Hard to Understand," 8 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'prefrontal cortex.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of prefrontal cortex

1900

in the meaning defined above

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