Abstract
This article proposes that what have been historically and contemporarily defined as different domains of human cognition are served by one of four functionally- and structurally-distinct areas of the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Their contributions to human intelligence are as follows: (a) BA9, enables our emotional intelligence, engaging the psychosocial domain; (b) BA47, enables our practical intelligence, engaging the material domain; (c) BA46 (or BA46-9/46), enables our abstract intelligence, engaging the hypothetical domain; and (d) BA10, enables our temporal intelligence, engaging in planning within any of the other three domains. Given their unique contribution to human cognition, it is proposed that these areas be called the, social (BA9), material (BA47), abstract (BA46-9/46) and temporal (BA10) mind. The evidence that BA47 participates strongly in verbal and gestural communication suggests that language evolved primarily as a consequence of the extreme selective pressure for practicality; an observation supported by the functional connectivity between BA47 and orbital areas that negatively reinforce lying. It is further proposed that the abstract mind (BA46-9/46) is the primary seat of metacognition charged with creating adaptive behavioral strategies by generating higher-order concepts (hypotheses) from lower-order concepts originating from the other three domains of cognition.
Highlights
COGNITION AND THE PREFRONTAL CORTEX ‘‘The specific histological differentiation of the cortical areas proves irrefutably their specific functional differentiation. . . the large number of specially built structural regions points to a spatial separation of many functions and. . . the sharply delimited localization of the physiological processes which correspond to it.’’Korbinian Brodmann (1868–1918) German Neurologist and Neuroanatomist.Understanding the nature of human intelligence is perhaps the greatest challenge to modern neuroscience, promising a comprehension of how humans have used cognition to dominate all other life forms, and opening the possibility of replication of our mental faculties in the creation of systems that match or potentially exceed, our own extraordinary, cognitive abilities
With respect to emotional intelligence, Van Overwalle (2009) concludes that when a task requires the preservation in working memory (WM) of more enduring elements of human interaction, such as the emotional disposition of self and others, there is a consistent participation of the medial PFC (mPFC)
It follows that the social brain must constitute a network of post-prefrontal centers that pass on highly integrated information to a unique, functional and structural entity within the prefrontal cortex (PFC) that supports the algorithms of emotional intelligence (Gardner, 1993; Goleman, 1995, 2007)
Summary
This article proposes that what have been historically and contemporarily defined as different domains of human cognition are served by one of four functionally- and structurally-distinct areas of the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Their contributions to human intelligence are as follows: (a) BA9, enables our emotional intelligence, engaging the psychosocial domain; (b) BA47, enables our practical intelligence, engaging the material domain; (c) BA46 (or BA46-9/46), enables our abstract intelligence, engaging the hypothetical domain; and (d) BA10, enables our temporal intelligence, engaging in planning within any of the other three domains.
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