The ventrolateral prefrontal cortex is part of the modular working memory system: A functional neuroanatomical perspective
For many years, the functional role of the ventrolateral Pre-Frontal Cortex (PFC) was associated with executive functions, specifically in the context of non-affective cognitive processes. However, recent research has suggested that the ventrolateral PFC is also involved in the attention system. The...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-02-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Neuroanatomy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnana.2023.1076095/full |
| _version_ | 1828004019675594752 |
|---|---|
| author | Orin Segal Odelia Elkana |
| author_facet | Orin Segal Odelia Elkana |
| author_sort | Orin Segal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | For many years, the functional role of the ventrolateral Pre-Frontal Cortex (PFC) was associated with executive functions, specifically in the context of non-affective cognitive processes. However, recent research has suggested that the ventrolateral PFC is also involved in the attention system. The Ben Shalom model of the functional organization of the prefrontal cortex (2019) posits that the ventrolateral PFC selects perceptual stimuli after integration by the adjacent ventromedial PFC. This article reviews the state-of-the-art findings to better understand the role of the ventrolateral PFC in the selection of perceptual information as grounded in the Ben Shalom model. Numerous studies have reported converging evidence for the selective role of this area. However, most argue that this perceptual selection takes place through the active updating of information values linked to goal-oriented actions. These studies thus view the ventrolateral PFC as part of a system that actively manipulates and changes processed information such as the working memory function, rather than being part of the attention system. In agreement with this view, this review suggests that this area is part of a complex and modular working memory system and illustrates with reference to Diamond’s work on ADD. This working memory system is functionally and anatomically dispersed and includes the dorsolateral PFC, the ACC, the parietal cortex, the basal ganglia, and the cerebellum. Hence, future research should continue to explore the specific neurofunctional roles of these areas in working memory systems, and the connections between the different subareas in this complex array. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T07:07:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f90efa1c3a1f4dd2b8bc60b349384526 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5129 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T07:07:53Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Neuroanatomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-f90efa1c3a1f4dd2b8bc60b3493845262023-02-27T05:38:13ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neuroanatomy1662-51292023-02-011710.3389/fnana.2023.10760951076095The ventrolateral prefrontal cortex is part of the modular working memory system: A functional neuroanatomical perspectiveOrin SegalOdelia ElkanaFor many years, the functional role of the ventrolateral Pre-Frontal Cortex (PFC) was associated with executive functions, specifically in the context of non-affective cognitive processes. However, recent research has suggested that the ventrolateral PFC is also involved in the attention system. The Ben Shalom model of the functional organization of the prefrontal cortex (2019) posits that the ventrolateral PFC selects perceptual stimuli after integration by the adjacent ventromedial PFC. This article reviews the state-of-the-art findings to better understand the role of the ventrolateral PFC in the selection of perceptual information as grounded in the Ben Shalom model. Numerous studies have reported converging evidence for the selective role of this area. However, most argue that this perceptual selection takes place through the active updating of information values linked to goal-oriented actions. These studies thus view the ventrolateral PFC as part of a system that actively manipulates and changes processed information such as the working memory function, rather than being part of the attention system. In agreement with this view, this review suggests that this area is part of a complex and modular working memory system and illustrates with reference to Diamond’s work on ADD. This working memory system is functionally and anatomically dispersed and includes the dorsolateral PFC, the ACC, the parietal cortex, the basal ganglia, and the cerebellum. Hence, future research should continue to explore the specific neurofunctional roles of these areas in working memory systems, and the connections between the different subareas in this complex array.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnana.2023.1076095/fullvlPFCventrolateral prefrontal cortexworking memoryfunctional neuroanatomical frameworklateral OFCinattentiveness |
| spellingShingle | Orin Segal Odelia Elkana The ventrolateral prefrontal cortex is part of the modular working memory system: A functional neuroanatomical perspective Frontiers in Neuroanatomy vlPFC ventrolateral prefrontal cortex working memory functional neuroanatomical framework lateral OFC inattentiveness |
| title | The ventrolateral prefrontal cortex is part of the modular working memory system: A functional neuroanatomical perspective |
| title_full | The ventrolateral prefrontal cortex is part of the modular working memory system: A functional neuroanatomical perspective |
| title_fullStr | The ventrolateral prefrontal cortex is part of the modular working memory system: A functional neuroanatomical perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | The ventrolateral prefrontal cortex is part of the modular working memory system: A functional neuroanatomical perspective |
| title_short | The ventrolateral prefrontal cortex is part of the modular working memory system: A functional neuroanatomical perspective |
| title_sort | ventrolateral prefrontal cortex is part of the modular working memory system a functional neuroanatomical perspective |
| topic | vlPFC ventrolateral prefrontal cortex working memory functional neuroanatomical framework lateral OFC inattentiveness |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnana.2023.1076095/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT orinsegal theventrolateralprefrontalcortexispartofthemodularworkingmemorysystemafunctionalneuroanatomicalperspective AT odeliaelkana theventrolateralprefrontalcortexispartofthemodularworkingmemorysystemafunctionalneuroanatomicalperspective AT orinsegal ventrolateralprefrontalcortexispartofthemodularworkingmemorysystemafunctionalneuroanatomicalperspective AT odeliaelkana ventrolateralprefrontalcortexispartofthemodularworkingmemorysystemafunctionalneuroanatomicalperspective |