The Unique Properties of the Prefrontal Cortex and Mental Illness

Abstract

Recent findings in rodents and non-human primates suggest that divergent cognitive processes are carried out by anatomically distinct subregions of the PFC [5][6][7], although the extent to which these processes can be considered functionally homologous in different www.intechopen.comThe Unique Properties of the Prefrontal Cortex and Mental Illness 5 species remains controversial [8]. As part of the limbic system, the PFC is widely connected with many brain structures, particularly those in the Papez circuit. These wide connections make the PFC extremely responsive to stimulation such as emotion, stress, motivation, and learning and memory processes [6, 9-11]. PFC connections in the rat brainThe rat PFC is divided into the prelimbic, infralimbic, anterior cingulate, agranular insular cortices, and orbitofrontal areas [12][13][14]. Each of these subregions of the PFC appears to make individual contributions to emotional and motivational influences on behavior [15]. The PFC has complex functions such as working memory as well as attention, cognition, emotion and executive control [16]. The glutamatergic pyramidal neurons in the anterior cingulate cortex send descending projections to the nucleus accumbens core, the center for reward and emotional processing [13,17,18]. Additional descending projections from the PFC to nucleus accumbens, amygdala and other limbic brain regions appear to exert regulatory control over reward-seeking behavior. Therefore, the PFC is a key component of the limbic system with many inputs and outputs, and its heterogeneous cytoarchitectonic structure implies a complex functional organization.

Exploring methodological frameworks for a mental task-based near-infrared spectroscopy brain–computer interface

“…The NIRS system was used to measure the blood oxygen content from the prefrontal cortex (PFC) (Gao et al, 1990;Ogata et al, 2007). Five laser diodes (emitting 690 nm and 830 nm light) and three photomultiplier tube detectors attached to a headband were used.…”

Usability and performance-informed selection of personalized mental tasks for an online near-infrared spectroscopy brain-computer interface

“…The PFC is involved in higher brain functions, including logical thinking, planning, and emotion. 26,53 Five laser diodes, each emitting 690 and 830 nm light, and three photomultiplier tube detectors attached to a headband were used. The headband was made out of a rubber polymer (3M 9900 series), which is comfortable on the skin and easily conforms to the shape of any head.…”

“…The anterior PFC is known to be involved in various executive functions, including: working memory, decision making, predicting future events, multitasking, maintaining attention, and emotional control. 19,53,60 Additionally, the medial anterior PFC is part of the default mode network (DMN), which is associated with deactivations below resting baseline levels during various goal-directed cognitive tasks and is also activated during autobiographical memory and envisioning the future. 19,20 The task that resulted in the most consistent increase in hemodynamic activity across participants appears to be happy thoughts.…”

A Multimodal Neuroprosthetic Interface to Record, Modulate and Classify Electrophysiological Biomarkers Relevant to Neuropsychiatric Disorders

“…Disturbances of prefrontal neural network activity underlie many cognitive and behavioral impairments observed in neuropsychiatric diseases such as addictive disorders, schizophrenia or autism. The complex etiology of these diseases makes optimal treatment challenging ( Gao et al, 2012 ). Current therapeutical interventions often present with side effects and lack long-term efficacy.…”