Book contents
- Cognitive Neuroscience of Decision-Making
- Cognitive Neuroscience of Decision-Making
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Glossary
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Executive Function and Cognitive Control
- 3 The Prefrontal Cortex
- 4 Prefrontal Cortex Structure and Organisation
- 5 Neurotransmitters and Neurophysiology
- 6 Memory
- 7 Decision Networks
- 8 Decision-Making Styles and Models of Decision-Making
- 9 Development
- 10 The Role of Childhood Experiences in Decision-Making
- 11 Decision-Making Deficits
- 12 Implications of Decision-Making
- Index
- References
4 - Prefrontal Cortex Structure and Organisation
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 November 2025
Book contents
- Cognitive Neuroscience of Decision-Making
- Cognitive Neuroscience of Decision-Making
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Glossary
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Executive Function and Cognitive Control
- 3 The Prefrontal Cortex
- 4 Prefrontal Cortex Structure and Organisation
- 5 Neurotransmitters and Neurophysiology
- 6 Memory
- 7 Decision Networks
- 8 Decision-Making Styles and Models of Decision-Making
- 9 Development
- 10 The Role of Childhood Experiences in Decision-Making
- 11 Decision-Making Deficits
- 12 Implications of Decision-Making
- Index
- References
Summary
The human brain can be divided by both structure and function. Brodmann maps provide a useful way of organising the complex cortical structure based on cytoarchitecture. The basic architecture of the prefrontal cortex shows nothing substantially different to other cortical regions we have a clearer understanding of. However, it remains clear that there must be something anatomically different in the prefrontal cortex for it to be able to carry out such complex functions. Despite vast differences in the functionality of brain regions, topographic connectivity is considered a hallmark feature of cortical structure. However, relatively recent research evidence shows there may be more complexity to the connectivity pattern in the prefrontal cortex when viewed on a fine scale.
Keywords
Information
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Cognitive Neuroscience of Decision-Making , pp. 38 - 53Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2025
References
Albright, T. D., & Desimone, R. (1987). Local precision of visuotopic organization in the middle temporal area (MT) of the macaque. Experimental Brain Research, 65(3), 582–592. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00235981CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Arcaro, M. J., McMains, S. A., Singer, B. D., & Kastner, S. (2009). Retinotopic organization of human ventral visual cortex. Journal of Neuroscience: The Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 29(34), 10638–10652. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2807-09.2009CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bedwell, S. A., Billett, E. E., Crofts, J. J., MacDonald, D., & Tinsley, C. J. (2015). The topology of connections between rat prefrontal and temporal cortices. Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience, 9, 80. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnsys.2015.00080CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bedwell, S. A., Billett, E. E., Crofts, J. J., & Tinsley, C. J. (2014). The topology of connections between rat prefrontal, motor and sensory cortices. Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience, 8, 177. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnsys.2014.00177CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bedwell, S. A., Billett, E. E., Crofts, J. J., & Tinsley, C. J. (2017). Differences in anatomical connections across distinct areas in the rodent prefrontal cortex. European Journal of Neuroscience, 46(3), 2005–2016. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.13521Google Scholar
Bedwell, S. A., & Tinsley, C. J. (2018). Mapping of fine scale rat prefrontal cortex connections: Evidence for detailed ordering of inputs and outputs connecting the temporal cortex and sensory-motor regions. European Journal of Neuroscience, 48(3), 1944–1963. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.14068CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Berendse, H. W., Galis-de Graaf, Y., & Groenewegen, H. J. (1992). Topographical organization and relationship with ventral striatal compartments of prefrontal corticostriatal projections in the rat. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 316(3), 314–347. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.903160305CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brodmann, K. (1909). Beschreibung der einzelnen Hirnkarten IV. kapitel in Vergleichende Lokalisationslehre der Grosshirnrinde [Description of individual brain maps. Chapter IV in Localisation in the cerebral cortex]. Verlag von Johann Ambrosias Barth.Google Scholar
Flaherty, A. W., & Graybiel, A. M. (1994). Input-output organization of the sensorimotor striatum in the squirrel monkey. Journal of Neuroscience: The Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 14(2), 599–610. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.14-02-00599.1994CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Furuyashiki, T., & Gallagher, M. (2007). Neural encoding in the orbitofrontal cortex related to goal-directed behavior. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1121, 193–215. https://doi.org/10.1196/annals.1401.037CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Goldman-Rakic, P. S. (1988). Topography of cognition: Parallel distributed networks in primate association cortex. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 11, 137–156. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ne.11.030188.001033CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hafting, T., Fyhn, M., Molden, S., Moser, M. B., & Moser, E. I. (2005). Microstructure of a spatial map in the entorhinal cortex. Nature, 436(7052), 801–806. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature03721CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hebb, D. O. (1949). The organization of behavior: A neuropsychological theory. Wiley and Sons.Google Scholar
Heidbreder, C. A., & Groenewegen, H. J. (2003). The medial prefrontal cortex in the rat: Evidence for a dorso-ventral distinction based upon functional and anatomical characteristics. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 27(6), 555–579. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2003.09.003CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kaas, J. H. (1997). Topographic maps are fundamental to sensory processing. Brain Research Bulletin, 44(2), 107–112. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0361-9230(97)00094-4CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Katwa, G., Bedwell, S. A., Rogers, J., & Brookes, M. (in preparation). The functional network structure of lexical decision-making.Google Scholar
Kesner, R. P., & Gilbert, P. E. (2007). The role of the agranular insular cortex in anticipation of reward contrast. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 88(1), 82–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nlm.2007.02.002CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lemon, R. N. (2008). An enduring map of the motor cortex. Experimental Physiology, 93(7), 798–802. https://doi.org/10.1113/expphysiol.2007.039081CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McAlonan, K., & Brown, V. J. (2003). Orbital prefrontal cortex mediates reversal learning and not attentional set shifting in the rat. Behavioural Brain Research, 146, 97–103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2003.09.019CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McFarland, N. R., & Haber, S. N. (2002). Thalamic relay nuclei of the basal ganglia form both reciprocal and nonreciprocal cortical connections, linking multiple frontal cortical areas. Journal of Neuroscience, 22(18), 8117–8132. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.22-18-08117.2002CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Merzenich, M. M., Knight, P. L., & Roth, G. L. (1975). Representation of cochlea within primary auditory cortex in the cat. Journal of Neurophysiology, 38(2), 231–249. https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.1975.38.2.231CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Morgan, M. A., & LeDoux, J. E. (1995). Differential contribution of dorsal and ventral medial prefrontal cortex to the acquisition and extinction of conditioned fear in rats. Behavioral Neuroscience, 109(4), 681–688. https://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7044.109.4.681CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Olson, C. R., & Musil, S. Y. (1992). Topographic organization of cortical and subcortical projections to posterior cingulate cortex in the cat: Evidence for somatic, ocular, and complex subregions. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 324(2), 237–260. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.903240207CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pandya, D. N., Dye, P., & Butters, N. (1971). Efferent cortico-cortical projections of the prefrontal cortex in the rhesus monkey. Brain Research, 31(1), 35–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(71)90632-9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Penfield, W., & Boldrey, E. (1937). Somatic and sensory representation in the cerebral cortex of man as studied by electrical stimulation. Brain, 60(4), 389–443. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/60.4.389CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schilman, E. A., Uylings, H. B., Galis-de Graaf, Y., Joel, D., & Groenewegen, H. J. (2008). The orbital cortex in rats topographically projects to central parts of the caudate-putamen complex. Neuroscience Letters, 432(1), 40–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2007.12.024CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schoenbaum, G., Chiba, A., & Gallagher, M. (1998). Orbitofrontal cortex and basolateral amygdala encode expected outcomes during learning. Nature Neuroscience, 1, 155–159. https://doi.org/10.1038/407CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sereno, M. I., & Huang, R. S. (2006). A human parietal face area contains aligned head-centered visual and tactile maps. Nature Neuroscience, 9(10), 1337–1343. https://doi.org/10.1038/nn1777CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thivierge, J. P., & Marcus, G. F. (2007). The topographic brain: From neural connectivity to cognition. Trends in Neurosciences, 30(6), 251–259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2007.04.004CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Van De Werd, H. J., & Uylings, H. B. (2008). The rat orbital and agranular insular prefrontal cortical areas: A cytoarchitectonic and chemoarchitectonic study. Brain Structure and Function, 212(5), 387–401. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-007-0164-yCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Welker, C. (1971). Microelectrode delineation of fine grain somatotopic organization of (SmI) cerebral neocortex in albino rat. Brain Research, 26(2), 259–275. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-8993(71)80004-5Google ScholarPubMed
Woolsey, T. A. (1967). Somatosensory, auditory and visual cortical areas of the mouse. The Johns Hopkins Medical Journal, 121(2), 91–112.Google ScholarPubMed
Accessibility standard: WCAG 2.2 AAA
Why this information is here
This section outlines the accessibility features of this content - including support for screen readers, full keyboard navigation and high-contrast display options. This may not be relevant for you.Accessibility Information
The PDF of this book
complies with version 2.2 of the
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
(WCAG), offering more comprehensive accessibility measures for a broad range
of users and attains the highest
(AAA)
level of WCAG compliance, optimising the user experience by meeting the most extensive
accessibility guidelines.
Content Navigation
Table of contents navigation
Allows you to navigate directly to chapters, sections, or non‐text items through a linked table of contents, reducing the need for extensive scrolling.
Allows you to navigate directly to chapters, sections, or non‐text items through a linked table of contents, reducing the need for extensive scrolling.
Index navigation
Provides an interactive index, letting you go straight to where a term or subject appears in the text without manual searching.
Provides an interactive index, letting you go straight to where a term or subject appears in the text without manual searching.
Reading Order & Textual Equivalents
Single logical reading order
You will encounter all content (including footnotes, captions, etc.) in a clear, sequential flow, making it easier to follow with assistive tools like screen readers.
You will encounter all content (including footnotes, captions, etc.) in a clear, sequential flow, making it easier to follow with assistive tools like screen readers.
Short alternative textual descriptions
You get concise descriptions (for images, charts, or media clips), ensuring you do not miss crucial information when visual or audio elements are not accessible.
You get concise descriptions (for images, charts, or media clips), ensuring you do not miss crucial information when visual or audio elements are not accessible.
Full alternative textual descriptions
You get more than just short alt text: you have comprehensive text equivalents, transcripts, captions, or audio descriptions for substantial non‐text content, which is especially helpful for complex visuals or multimedia.
You get more than just short alt text: you have comprehensive text equivalents, transcripts, captions, or audio descriptions for substantial non‐text content, which is especially helpful for complex visuals or multimedia.
Visualised data also available as non-graphical data
You can access graphs or charts in a text or tabular format, so you are not excluded if you cannot process visual displays.
You can access graphs or charts in a text or tabular format, so you are not excluded if you cannot process visual displays.
Visual Accessibility
Use of colour is not sole means of conveying information
You will still understand key ideas or prompts without relying solely on colour, which is especially helpful if you have colour vision deficiencies.
You will still understand key ideas or prompts without relying solely on colour, which is especially helpful if you have colour vision deficiencies.
Use of high contrast between text and background colour
You benefit from high‐contrast text, which improves legibility if you have low vision or if you are reading in less‐than‐ideal lighting conditions.
You benefit from high‐contrast text, which improves legibility if you have low vision or if you are reading in less‐than‐ideal lighting conditions.