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Damage to the Fronto-Polar Cortex Is Associated with Impaired Multitasking

Author

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  • Jean-Claude Dreher
  • Etienne Koechlin
  • Michael Tierney
  • Jordan Grafman

Abstract

Background: A major question in understanding the functional organization of the brain is to delineate the functional divisions of the prefrontal cortex. Of particular importance to the cognitive capacities that are uniquely human is the fronto-polar cortex (Brodmann's area 10), which is disproportionally larger in humans relative to the rest of the brain than it is in the ape's brain. The specific function of this brain region remains poorly understood, but recent neuroimaging studies have proposed that it may hold goals in mind while exploring and processing secondary goals. Principal Findings: Here we show that the extent of damage to the fronto-polar cortex predicts impairment in the management of multiple goals. This result reveals that the integrity of the fronto-polar cortex is necessary to perform tasks that require subjects to maintain a primary goal in mind while processing secondary goals, an ability which is crucial for complex human cognitive abilities. Conclusion/Significance: These results provide important new insights concerning the cerebral basis of complex human cognition such as planning and multitasking.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0003227
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0003227
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. 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.
    2. Nathaniel D. Daw & John P. O'Doherty & Peter Dayan & Ben Seymour & Raymond J. Dolan, 2006. "Cortical substrates for exploratory decisions in humans," Nature, Nature, vol. 441(7095), pages 876-879, June.
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    1. Fangyuan Tian & Hongxia Li & Shuicheng Tian & Jiang Shao & Chenning Tian, 2022. "Effect of Shift Work on Cognitive Function in Chinese Coal Mine Workers: A Resting-State fNIRS Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-21, April.

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