Principles of Frontal Lobe Function

Principles of Frontal Lobe Function provides a comprehensive review of historical and current research on the functions of the frontal lobes and frontal systems of the brain. The content covers frontal lobe functions from birth to old age, from biochemistry and anatomy to rehabilitation, from normal to disrupted function. Two introductory chapters guide, in different ways, reading of subsequent chapters. Following are a number of chapters dealing with basic science - neuroanatomy and neurochemistry. The various theoretical positions proposed reflect the diversity of approaches to the same fundamental question about the role of frontal lobes. Some chapters deal with broad, salient issues such as functional heterogeneity versus homogeneity, while others narrow their focus on specific functions like motor control, language, memory and attention, executive functioning, and emotional and social behaviour. The book concludes with chapters on applied clinical research such as frontal lobe pathology in neurological diseases and disorders, stroke and traumatic brain injury, as well as strategies for neurorehabilitation. The book is intended to be a standard reference work on the frontal lobes for researchers, clinicians, and students in the fields of neurology, neuroscience, psychiatry, psychology, and health care.

Table of Contents:
Foreword ; Preface ; 1. Introduction ; 2. The Human Frontal Lobes: Transcending the Default Mode through Contigent Encoding ; 3. Association Pathways of the Prefrontal Cortex and Functional Observations ; 4. Neurochemical Modulation of Prefrontal Cortical Functions in Humans and Animals ; 5. Functional Architecture of the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Monkeys and Man ; 6. Physiology of Executive Functions: The Perception-Action Cycle ; 7. The Theatre of the Mind: Physiological Studies of the Human Frontal Lobes ; 8. Motor Programming for Hand and Vocalizing Movements ; 9. Cortical Control of Visuometer Reflexes ; 10. Disorders of Language After Frontal Lobe Injury ; 11. The Organization of Working Memory Function in Lateral Prefrontal Cortex ; 12. The Frontal Cortex and Working with Memory ; 13. Memory Retrieval and Executive Control Processes ; 14. Dorsal Prefrontal Cortex: Maintenance in Memory or Attentional Selection ; 15. Mechanisms of Conflict Resolution in Prefrontal Cortex ; 16. Fractionating the Central Executive ; 17. Fractionation of the Supervisory System ; 18. Cognitive Focus through Adaptive Neural Coding in Primate Prefrontal Cortex ; 19. The Structured Event Complex and the Human Prefrontal Cortex ; 20. Chronesthesia: Conscious Awareness of Subjective Time ; 21. Integration Across Multiple Cognitive and Motivational Domains in Monkey Prefrontal Cortex ; 22. Emotion, Decision-Making and the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex ; 23. The Functions of the Orbitofrontal Cortex ; 24. Mapping Mood: An Evolving Emphasis on Frontal-Limbic Interactions ; 25. Fractionation and Localization of Distinct Frontal Lobe Processes: Evidence from Focal Lesions in Humans ; 26. Neurobehavioural Consequences of Neurosurgical Treatments and Focal Lesions of Frontal-Subcortical Circuits ; 27. The Role of Prefrontal Cortex in Normal and Disordered Cognitive Control: A Cognitive Neuroscience Perspective ; 28. Novel Approaches to The Assessment of Frontal Damage and Executive Deficits in Traumatic Brain Injury ; 29. Normal Development of Prefrontal Cortex, from Birth to Young Adulthood: Cognitive Functions, Anatomy and Biochemistry ; 30. Executive Functions Following Frontal Lobe Injury: A Developmental Perspective ; 31. Aging, Memory, and Frontal Lobe Functioning ; 32. Frontal Lobe Plasticity and Behaviour ; 33. Principles of the Rehabilitation of Frontal Lobe Function ; 34. Prefrontal Cortex: The Present and the Future

Review :
If you still wonder what the prefrontal cortex does, and how to perform a meaningful exam of its functions, you should read this book. You will find here the right answers to many questions regarding the function of the prefrontal cortex . . . This book is certainly very good not only as a reference book, but also as a textbook for neuroscientists who are already engaged in the study of the prefrontal cortex, as well as for beginners who want to learn more about this fascinating cortical region. . . . highly recommended. It will be essential reading and a standard reference for researchers, teachers and students of the frontal lobes. It cannot be denied that this is an excellent book. It contains all of the topics that one might reasonably ask for, systematically reviewed in the correct sequence . . . Most neuroscientists and clinicians would gain greatly from this book . . . The neuroscience of frontal lobe function and executive function has badly needed a text with the breadth and depth to do justice to the many recent developments in this field, and this book fulfills that role very well. It will be of utmost interest for neuroscientists, clinicians, psychologists, and all who are interested and working in this exciting field of the neurosciences. From this extraordinary book the reviewer has learned a lot . . . This is an important book for any neurology, neuroscience, or neurosurgery library. . . . of utmost interest for neuroscientists, clinicians, psychologists and all who are interested and working in this exciting field of neurosciences. From this extraordinary book the reviewer has learned a lot about the anatomy, functions and dysfunctions of the frontal lobes and fronto-subcortical systems.