prefrontal cortex

American  

[pree-fruhn-tl kawr-teks] / ˈpriˌfrʌn tl ˈkɔr tɛks /

noun

1. the forwardmost part of the frontal lobe, associated with complex brain functions such as emotional expression, behavioral regulation, decision making, attention, and planning: part of the cerebral cortex.

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Etymology

Origin of prefrontal cortex

First recorded in 1895–1900

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

prefrontal cortex

The researchers also detected stronger activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and the precuneus.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 4, 2026

For many years, scientists believed that attention was controlled primarily by the prefrontal cortex, a brain region that is especially developed in humans and other primates.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 24, 2026

The prefrontal cortex, the brain’s “command center,” doesn’t finish developing until the mid- to late 20s.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

A study in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience showed participants’ brains could automate tasks by offloading them from the prefrontal cortex to the temporal cortex.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026

In those situations, teens are more likely to make decisions with the limbic system rather than the prefrontal cortex.

From "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater

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