1. PREFRONTAL CORTEX
TIIU, ALEX, MCIHELLE

2. DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION
· The shaded region is the
prefrontal cortex
· Just behind the forehead
· It is in front of the motor
and premotor areas
http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-the-prefrontal-cortex.htm

3. FUNCTIONS
• The prefrontal cortex is used in abstract thinking,
thought analysis, problem solving, emotion and
complex thought.
• The prefrontal cortex’s functions are often referred
to as executive function. The executive function
refers to the abilities to differentiate among
conflicting thoughts, determine good and bad,
future consequences of current activities, working
toward a specific aim, predicted expectation based
on actions, and social behavior.

4. PHINEAS AND GAGE
•
25 year old in an accident where a metal pole went through
his skull (went through the front of his brain)
•
Awake and alert
•
No noticeable difficulty with speech or language
•
Behavioral changes
•
Balance between intellectual abilities and emotional control
destroyed
•
Became agitated
•
Used lots of profanity and pornographic language
•
Findings: found evidence that the frontal cortex affects
personality and social behaviors
•
Issues: There was no real scientific method because it was
an unexpected accident
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phineas_Gage

5. PREFRONTAL CORTEX AND ADDICTION
•
Aim: To investigate the relationship between cocaine-induces brain
defects in the prefrontal cortex and addiction
•
Method: Rats were engineered to carry light activated neurons in a part
of their prefrontal cortex called the prelimbic cortex
•
Took rats that were chronically addicted to cocaine. Rats would press a
lever and receive a hit of cocaine but also an electric shock. Their need
for the drug was so strong they ignored the electric shock.
•
Scientists used laser light pulses to activate the neurons in the
prelimbic cortex
•
Findings: The rat’s fear of the shock returned, cocaine seeking lessened
•
The scientists also reduced activity in the same brain region with rats
that had been previously deterred by the foot shock and they then
became chronic cocaine junkies
http://directorsblog.nih.g
ov/2013/04/16/shininga-bright-light-oncocaine-addiction/

6. PREFRONTAL CORTEX AND SYMBOLS AND
NUMBERS
• Aim: To research the relationship between the prefrontal
cortex and relating symbols with abstract concepts
• Trained two monkeys to link the number of dots with
Arabic numbers
• during tests the monkeys were trained to pull a lever
when the number of dots matched the numeral
• Findings: 23% of prefrontal neurons increased activity
during the task
• Prefrontal cortex plays a role in making connections
between numerical quantities and the symbols that
represent them
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=how-the-brain-mapssymbol

7. WHAT HAPPENS DURING DYSFUNCTION?
• Reduces interconnections between
frontal lobe and other brain regions is
also seen in patients diagnosed with
mental disorders, suicide victims,
criminals, sociopaths and drug addicts
• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar disorder
• ADHD