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Principles of Sports Medicine & Exercise Science

Prefrontal Cortex (PFC)

by Elizabeth Mohn

Category: Anatomy

Specialties and related fields: Anatomy, neuroanatomy, neuroanatomy, psychiatry, psychology

Definition: the gray matter of the anterior part of the frontal lobe that is highly developed in humans and plays a role in the regulation of complex cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning

KEY TERMS

brain: an organ of soft nervous tissue contained in the skull of vertebrates, functioning as the coordinating center of sensation and intellectual and nervous activity

cerebral hemispheres: either of the rounded halves of the brain’s cerebrum, divided laterally by a deep fissure and connected at the bottom by the corpus callosum

cerebral lobes: cerebral cortex is divided lengthways into two cerebral hemispheres connected by the corpus callosum; each hemisphere is divided into four lobes: frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital

cerebrum: the largest part of the brain, divided into two hemispheres, or halves, called the “cerebral hemispheres”

INTRODUCTION

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is part of the brain that helps regulate decision-making, planning, and speaking. The PFC is part of the frontal lobe—one of the last parts of the brain to develop in humans. The PFC helps regulate emotion and executive function, including complicated mental processes such as planning and decision-making. Scientists have been able to study the PFC through imaging and observations of people who have illnesses or injuries that affect that section of the brain. Scientists believe that the PFC is an important factor in several mental illnesses and disorders, such as depression, bipolar disorder, and Alzheimer’s disease.

BACKGROUND

The prefrontal cortex is part of the cerebrum, the largest part of the human brain. The brain acts as the body’s control center, directing the operations of the organs and processes necessary for the body to function. The cerebrum controls functions such as sight, hearing, speech, and moto control. The cerebrum is split into left and right hemispheres, further broken down into four lobes—the frontal lobe, the parietal lobe, the occipital lobe, and the temporal lobe. Cracks, wrinkles, or fissures separate the lobes. Although they are separate, different parts of the brain work together to perform tasks. Even areas of the brain that are suited to one task generally work with other parts to complete other tasks. Different brain parts can also “learn” to perform different functions if parts of the brain are damaged by injury or illness.

OVERVIEW

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is part of the brain of mammals. The PFC is located directly behind the skull at the front of the forehead. The frontal lobe, of which the PFC is a part, extends front the front of the skull to about the middle of the brain; the PFC is the largest section of the frontal lobe. It is itself broken down into different parts, though the exact parts and names are debated among scientists. The PFC is well-developed in humans, but it is very small in animals such as rats, making some brain studies challenging in rodents and other animals.

The PFC is vital to daily life because of its role in cognitive function. The PFC is responsible for executive function, high-order thinking that includes decision-making and planning for the future. This part of the brain helps humans develop and produce speech and also helps in abstract reasoning. People use the PFC to understand others’ emotions and thoughts, making it important for feelings of empathy. It can also give people insight into themselves, their thoughts, and their judgments. Because the PFC regulates so many cognitive functions, an injury or illness that affects that section of the brain can greatly influence vital day-to-day actions.

Anterior view of the left cerebral hemisphere.

POSpKin_p0069_0001.tif

Image by DataBase Center for Life Science, via Wikimedia Commons.

Scientists have developed a basic understanding of how the PFC works. However, they still do not understand the majority of how the brain functions. They do know the PFC collects information from other parts of the brain. This information can include visual or auditory information. The PFC uses this input and then sends commands back to other brain parts based on the input. For example, the PFC can send signals to control motor function or focus the attention of the senses.

The PFC develops over the early course of a human lifetime and is the last part of the brain to develop fully. This development continues into a person’s twenties. Scientists theorize that this results in young adults and teenagers not always making the best possible decisions or planning for the future. However, adults with a fully developed prefrontal cortex can also face problems if their PFC does not always function at the most efficient level.

Brain arousal also affects the performance of the PFC. For example, a person could experience weak PFC function if they are tired or only partially awake. A person can also be affected by too much brain arousal, such as experiencing a great amount of stress or trauma. Scientists believe this may explain why people sometimes make poor decisions when tired or overly stressed. Scientists believe brains that maintain healthy arousal levels can create strong neural pathways from the PFC to other parts of the brain. Increased cerebral connectivity allows the PFC to regulate thoughts, actions, and emotions better. When a person experiences stress, the PFC’s function weakens, and other brain parts are activated. Scientists believe a weakened PFC could activate the brain’s more primitive parts, such as the amygdala. When a person uses these less-developed sections, it can lead to overreactions instead of thoughtful action. Furthermore, if these more primitive parts are overused, the brain will begin to rely on them more often.

Scientists have also found a link between the PFC and common mental illnesses and disorders. For example, depression is a mental illness that can cause sadness, loss of interest, and hopelessness. Imaging studies have shown decreased activity in parts of the PFC in people suffering from depression. Bipolar disorder is a condition that can cause manic and depressive episodes. During manic episodes, people become less inhibited, more active, and more distractible. Imaging studies have shown that the part of the PFC that helps regulate inhibitions has decreased activity during manic episodes. Scientists still do not fully understand the connections between the PFC and mental illness. Still, they hope that by studying the PFC, they can someday help people with these disorders.

Further Reading

1 

Antonio H. Lara, and Jonathan D. Wallis. “The Role of Prefrontal Cortex in Working Memory: A Mini Review.” Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience, 18 Dec. 2015, www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2015.00173/full. Accessed 4 May 2020.

2 

Arnsten, Amy F. T. “Stress Signaling Pathways that Impair Prefrontal Cortex Structure and Function.” Nature Reviews Neuroscience, vol. 10, no. 6, 2009, pp. 410-22.

3 

“Brain Map Frontal Lobes.” Queensland Government, 18 Apr. 2017, www.health.qld.gov.au/abios/asp/bfrontal. Accessed 4 May 2020.

4 

Clark, Luke, and D. Phil. “Cognitive Neuroscience and Brain Imaging in Bipolar Disorder.” Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, vol. 10, no. 2, 2008, pp. 153-65.

5 

Dolan, Eric W. “In Depressed People, the Medial Prefrontal Cortex Exerts More Control over Other Parts of the Brain.” PsyPost, 19 June 2017, www.psypost.org/2017/06/depressed-people-medial-prefrontal-cortex-exerts-control-parts-brain-49168. Accessed 4 May 2020.

6 

Fetterman, Anne, Joseph Campellone, and Raymond Kent Turley. “Understanding the Teen Brain.” University of Rochester Medical Center Rochester, 2020, www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=3051. Accessed 4 May 2020.

7 

“Get To Know Your Brain Series—The Frontal Lobe.” UPMC HealthBeat, 1 Dec. 2014, share.upmc.com/2014/12/get-know-brain-series-frontal-lobe/. Accessed 4 May 2020.

8 

Leibenluft, Ellen. “Neuropathology of Bipolar Disorder.” Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, www.cshl.edu/dnalcmedia/neuropathology-of-bipolar-disorder/. Accessed 4 May 2020.

9 

“Parts of the Brain That Slow Down or Speed up in Depression.” McGill University, thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/i/i_08/i_08_cr/i_08_cr_dep/i_08_cr_dep.html. Accessed 4 May 2020.

Citation Types

Type
Format
MLA 9th
Mohn, Elizabeth. "Prefrontal Cortex (PFC)." Principles of Sports Medicine & Exercise Science, edited by Michael A. Buratovich, Salem Press, 2022. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=POSpKin_0020.
APA 7th
Mohn, E. (2022). Prefrontal Cortex (PFC). In M. A. Buratovich (Ed.), Principles of Sports Medicine & Exercise Science. Salem Press. online.salempress.com.
CMOS 17th
Mohn, Elizabeth. "Prefrontal Cortex (PFC)." Edited by Michael A. Buratovich. Principles of Sports Medicine & Exercise Science. Hackensack: Salem Press, 2022. Accessed September 16, 2025. online.salempress.com.