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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
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
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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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