Prefrontal Cortex Courses

The prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain located just behind the forehead. It is the part of the brain responsible for higher-level thinking such as problem solving, decision-making, judgment, and impulse control. It plays a major role in modulating our behavior, emotions, and motivation. It is also involved in complex social processes such as moral reasoning and understanding the feelings of others. It is an area that is quickly developing during adolescence, and continues to mature throughout adulthood. Damage to the prefrontal cortex can have many devastating effects, including impairing the ability to plan, control impulses, understand consequences, shift between tasks, recall behaviors, and accurately assess a situation. Dysfunctions of the prefrontal cortex are associated with different types of mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.