A parallel functional topography between medial and lateral prefrontal cortex: evidence and implications for
Adrienne A Taren1, Vinod Venkatraman, Scott A Huettel
1Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA.
Summary
Cognitive control involves the dorsomedial and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices (dmPFC and dlPFC). We found parallel posterior-to-anterior connectivity gradients between dmPFC and dlPFC, suggesting hierarchical organization for cognitive control.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- The dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) monitors performance, while the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) adjusts behavior during cognitive control.
- The dlPFC exhibits topographic organization, with anterior regions handling abstract processing, suggesting a potential hierarchical structure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional connectivity and organizational principles of the dmPFC and dlPFC.
- To determine if a parallel hierarchical organization exists between the dmPFC and dlPFC.
Main Methods:
- Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to measure connectivity between functional nodes of the dmPFC and dlPFC in humans.
- Analyses included point-to-point and voxelwise approaches across three independent datasets.
Main Results:
- A consistent posterior-to-anterior connectivity gradient was observed between dmPFC and dlPFC across all datasets.
- Posterior regions of dmPFC showed maximal connectivity with posterior dlPFC, and anterior dmPFC with anterior dlPFC.
Conclusions:
- The findings support a model of cognitive control involving hierarchical interactions between medial and lateral prefrontal cortex subdivisions.
- The level of hierarchical interaction is proposed to depend on current environmental demands.
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