Abstract
The prefrontal cortex of the human brain is affected by various pathological
conditions, and for the apparent theoretical gains and clinical benefits, brain
scientists and clinicians alike have for decades endeavored to understand the
precise role of this region of the brain. Recent findings in
electrophysiological and functional neuroimaging studies provide a better
insight into the neuronal activities during various cognitive processes
performed by the prefrontal cortex. Nevertheless, some of these findings are at
odds with others, and the theorized roles of the prefrontal cortex remain
largely under dispute. On the clinical side, a longer history of research
provides a wealth of symptom descriptions on the multifaceted prefrontal
dysfunction. In the midst of this abundance, however, there still exists a need
for coherent categorization of these seemingly disparate symptoms. This task
could be done based on the nature of affected cognitive processes and their
putative neural substrates. With this view in mind, the present article
selectively reviews major anatomical evidence and experimental data together
with clinical observations on prefrontal patients in an attempt to integrate
findings in science with behavioral data and ultimately to propose a model of
functional organization within the prefrontal cortex.