The Frontal Lobes

Frontal Lobe Function

1) Able to Plan and select relevant activities

2) Ignore distracting stimuli

3) have memory for what you’ve already done

4)executive functions

5) respond to internal and external cues

Fluid Intelligence

capacity to reason and solve problems independent of any knowledge in the past

Crystallized Intelligence

breadth of knowledge, vocabulary and the ability to reason using words and numbers

Salience Network

most active when behavioral change is needed; operates to modulate other networks’ activities

Default Network

active while participants are resting, thinking about one’s past, about the future or when mind wanders

Connectome

comprehensive map of structural connections of nervous system

Autonoetic Awareness

self knowledge

Prefrontal Cortex

1) controls cognitive processes so that appropriate movements are selected at the correct time

2)feedback about rewarding properties of stimuli

Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex

temporal memory (working memory)

Orbital Frontal Cortex

learning by association

Role of Premotor Cortex

3 parts

1) dorsal premotor cortex

2) ventral premotor cortex

3) inferior frontal gyrus

Function

• selects movement to be executed

• increased activity when cues become associated with movement

Ventral Premotor Cortex

• contains mirror neurons

• receives projection from parietal regions and Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex

mirror neurons

a brain cell that reacts both when a particular action is performed and when it is only observed

Dorsal Premotor Cortex

• chooses movement from movement lexicon

• receives projection from parietal regions

What is the role of the Primary Motor Cortex

• controls movement force and direction

• projects to subcortical motor structures

  • basal ganglia

  • red nucleus

  • cranial nerves VII, IX, X, XII

  • spinal cord

What % of the neocortex is made of the frontal lobe

30-35 %

Inferior Frontal Gyrus

Brocas area