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prefrontal cortex
noun
: 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
Examples of prefrontal cortex in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There’s our prefrontal cortex, this sort of seat of executive function that makes rational decisions.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 22 May 2024
Various regions of the brain, like the prefrontal cortex, leverage our working memory to tell us how long it’s been since an event.
—Paul M. Sutter, Discover Magazine, 23 Apr. 2024
Brain scans of people who spend time outdoors show their prefrontal cortex has more gray matter plus a stronger ability to think clearly and self-regulate stress and anxiety.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
During these 25-minute sessions, half of the veterans simultaneously received painless, 2 milliamp tDCS stimulations directed at their ventromedial prefrontal cortex.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Mar. 2024
One 2015 study found that people hearing gossip showed more activity in their prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain responsible for navigating complex social behaviors.
—Daisy Jones, Vogue, 4 Mar. 2024
Studies have shown that THC, one of the main cannabinoids found in cannabis, can significantly reduce rates of anxiety and traumatic memories related to trauma and PTSD by reducing activity in the amygdala and reduces cognitive distractions by inhibiting activity in the prefrontal cortex.
—Sarah Sinclair, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Unfortunately, post-traumatic stress disorder often reworks the brain by limiting the ventromedial prefrontal cortex’s ability to control regions like the amygdala.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Mar. 2024
The prefrontal cortex is an area of the brain involved in impulse control, decision-making and emotional regulation.
—Seena Mathew, Discover Magazine, 14 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prefrontal cortex.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1900, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of prefrontal cortex was
in 1900
Dictionary Entries Near prefrontal cortex
Cite this Entry
“Prefrontal cortex.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prefrontal%20cortex. Accessed 28 May. 2024.
Medical Definition
prefrontal cortex
noun
: 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
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