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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Stress lights up the brain’s threat circuits in the amygdala and quiets the prefrontal cortex — the region responsible for reasoning and self-control. Big Think, 4 May 2026 Estrogen receptors are concentrated in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, governing memory, executive function, and decision-making. Torie Bosch, STAT, 2 May 2026 The human brain isn’t fully formed until the mid-twenties, and the prefrontal cortex, used in planning, reasoning, emotion regulation, and critical thinking, is among the last regions to mature. Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026 Constant scrolling overloads the prefrontal cortex, which in children is still under construction. John La Puma, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2026 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

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Cite this Entry

“Prefrontal cortex.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prefrontal%20cortex. Accessed 11 May. 2026.

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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