Executive control center responsible for [[Decision-Making]], inhibition, and planning. Critical for regulating emotion, working memory, and goal-oriented behavior. ## Connected Regions - [[Hippocampus]] - [[Amygdala]] - [[Striatum]] - [[Anterior Cingulate Cortex]] - [[Default Mode Network (DMN)]] ## Functions - Inhibitory control (impulse regulation) - Working memory management - Planning and [[goal-directed behavior]] - Emotional regulation (in collaboration with limbic structures) - Cognitive flexibility and problem-solving ## Subsystems - **Dorsolateral PFC**: working memory, planning, abstract reasoning - **Ventromedial PFC**: emotional regulation, value-based decisions - **Orbitofrontal Cortex**: reward evaluation, [[Decision-Making]] under uncertainty ## Clinical Notes - Hypoactivity linked to [[ADHD]], **[[Depression]]**, **[[schizophrenia]]** - Overactivation or dysregulation can contribute to **rumination** and **anxiety** - Target for cognitive behavioral interventions and neuromodulation (TMS, tDCS) ## Sources - Prefrontal cortex - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medial_prefrontal_cortex - Prefrontal Cortex: What It Is, Function, Location & Damage https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/prefrontal-cortex - The Medial Prefrontal Cortex as a Central Hub for Mental ... https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7279227/ - Prefrontal cortex - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prefrontal_cortex