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
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This specificity creates neural pathways that bypass the amygdala's alarm response and engage the prefrontal cortex's problem-solving networks.
—
Sahar Andrade, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Key concept: Similar brain patterns in people with shared positive traits
Previous studies have shown that people with a higher social status—more central in their networks—and those with lower amounts of loneliness also share similar neural patterns in the medial prefrontal cortex.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 July 2025
Once that is complete, the prefrontal cortex fully matures, and so, in their thirties, people begin to reflect on their goals and purpose.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025
Using functional magnetic resonance imaging to record brain activity, Yanagisawa and his colleagues studied the medial prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain involved in emotions and planning for the future.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 July 2025
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Sahar Andrade, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Key concept: Similar brain patterns in people with shared positive traits
Previous studies have shown that people with a higher social status—more central in their networks—and those with lower amounts of loneliness also share similar neural patterns in the medial prefrontal cortex.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 July 2025
Once that is complete, the prefrontal cortex fully matures, and so, in their thirties, people begin to reflect on their goals and purpose.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025
Using functional magnetic resonance imaging to record brain activity, Yanagisawa and his colleagues studied the medial prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain involved in emotions and planning for the future.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for prefrontal cortex
Cite this Entry
“Prefrontal cortex.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prefrontal%20cortex. Accessed 29 Aug. 2025.
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