Chapter 6 - Neurophysiology

Abstract

The prefrontal cortex integrates information from sensory modalities in the perception–action cycle, the biocybernetic interface between the organism and its environment. The cognitive (mainly cortical) cycle is hierarchically organized, like the perceptual and executive cortical regions that it binds. The orbitomedial prefrontal areas integrate and control visceral and emotional information. An emotional perception–action cycle parallels and interacts with the cognitive cycle. Top–down neural influences from prefrontal to posterior cortex contribute to the executive prospective functions of cognitive control, such as attentional set and working memory; these are served by reciprocal excitatory and inhibitory outputs from lateral and orbital prefrontal cortex, respectively. Working memory, the temporary retention of sensory information for prospective use, is maintained by re-entrant activity between prefrontal and posterior association cortex. Orbital prefrontal cortex is involved in the evaluation of reward and delay discount, whereas anterior cingulate cortex is involved in error monitoring.