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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And panicking diverts resources from our thinking zone – the prefrontal cortex – to the fight, flight, or freeze zone at the base of the brain.
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Shani Harmon, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Rigid thinkers tend to have lower levels of dopamine in their prefrontal cortex and higher levels of dopamine in their striatum, a key midbrain structure in our reward system that controls our rapid instincts.
—Matt Richtel, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Small, intentional shifts engage the prefrontal cortex, building comfort with discomfort.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
That’s because the amygdala, a part of the brain that processes feelings, and the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for reasoning and self-control, may fall out of sync under these conditions.
—Nathalie Alonso, AFAR Media, 23 Apr. 2025
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Shani Harmon, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Rigid thinkers tend to have lower levels of dopamine in their prefrontal cortex and higher levels of dopamine in their striatum, a key midbrain structure in our reward system that controls our rapid instincts.
—Matt Richtel, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Small, intentional shifts engage the prefrontal cortex, building comfort with discomfort.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
That’s because the amygdala, a part of the brain that processes feelings, and the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for reasoning and self-control, may fall out of sync under these conditions.
—Nathalie Alonso, AFAR Media, 23 Apr. 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 20 May. 2025.
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