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The role of the anterior prefrontal cortex in human cognition

Author

Listed:
  • Etienne Koechlin

    (Cognitive Neuroscience Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health)

  • Gianpaolo Basso

    (Cognitive Neuroscience Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health)

  • Pietro Pietrini

    (Cognitive Neuroscience Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health)

  • Seth Panzer

    (Cognitive Neuroscience Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health)

  • Jordan Grafman

    (Cognitive Neuroscience Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health)

Abstract

Complex problem-solving and planning involve the most anterior part of the frontal lobes including the fronto-polar prefrontal cortex (FPPC)1,2,3,4,5,6, which is especially well developed in humans compared with other primates7,8. The specific role of this region in human cognition, however, is poorly understood. Here we show, using functional magnetic resonance imaging, that bilateral regions in the FPPC alone are selectively activated when subjects have to keep in mind a main goal while performing concurrent (sub)goals. Neither keeping in mind a goal over time (working memory) nor successively allocating attentional resources between alternative goals (dual-task performance) could by themselves activate these regions. Our results indicate that the FPPC selectively mediates the human ability to hold in mind goals while exploring and processing secondary goals, a process generally required in planning and reasoning.

Suggested Citation

  • Etienne Koechlin & Gianpaolo Basso & Pietro Pietrini & Seth Panzer & Jordan Grafman, 1999. "The role of the anterior prefrontal cortex in human cognition," Nature, Nature, vol. 399(6732), pages 148-151, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:399:y:1999:i:6732:d:10.1038_20178
    DOI: 10.1038/20178
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    Cited by:

    1. Nicola De Pisapia & Marco Sandrini & Todd S Braver & Luigi Cattaneo, 2012. "Integration in Working Memory: A Magnetic Stimulation Study on the Role of Left Anterior Prefrontal Cortex," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(8), pages 1-8, August.
    2. Brocas, Isabelle & Carrillo, Juan D., 2021. "Value computation and modulation: A neuroeconomic theory of self-control as constrained optimization," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    3. Charles J Limb & Allen R Braun, 2008. "Neural Substrates of Spontaneous Musical Performance: An fMRI Study of Jazz Improvisation," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 3(2), pages 1-9, February.
    4. Jeremy R Reynolds & Randall C O'Reilly & Jonathan D Cohen & Todd S Braver, 2012. "The Function and Organization of Lateral Prefrontal Cortex: A Test of Competing Hypotheses," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(2), pages 1-15, February.
    5. Maayan Pereg & Nachshon Meiran, 2019. "Rapid instructed task learning (but not automatic effects of instructions) is influenced by working memory load," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(6), pages 1-25, June.
    6. Jean-Claude Dreher & Etienne Koechlin & Michael Tierney & Jordan Grafman, 2008. "Damage to the Fronto-Polar Cortex Is Associated with Impaired Multitasking," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 3(9), pages 1-9, September.

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