prefrontal cortex

American

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

noun

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.

Etymology

Origin of prefrontal cortex

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Many animals can also focus their attention despite lacking a highly developed prefrontal cortex.

From Science Daily • Jun. 24, 2026

The scientists found that, while first learning the task, the participants’ prefrontal cortex was activated.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026

The research showed a measurable decline in the performance of the prefrontal cortex between initial scans and five-year follow-ups.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

Changes in their activity also influenced how fear-related signals reached the prefrontal cortex, a region involved in decision-making.

From Science Daily • Apr. 4, 2026

What if I really am just someone with a large prefrontal cortex... and nothing more?

From "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023