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Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
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<p>The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC or DL-PFC) is an area in the <a href="/facts/Prefrontal_cortex/dypYIrwx">prefrontal cortex</a> of the <a href="/facts/Primate/Hl8RNE2X">primate</a> brain. It is one of the most recently derived parts of the human brain. It undergoes a prolonged period of maturation which lasts into adulthood. The DLPFC is not an anatomical structure, but rather a functional one. It lies in the middle frontal gyrus of humans (i.e., lateral part of <a href="/facts/Brodmann_area_9/Xqh9Xxd8">Brodmann's area (BA) 9</a> and <a href="/facts/Brodmann_area_46/S7kXuenA">46</a>). In macaque monkeys, it is around the principal sulcus (i.e., in Brodmann's area 46). Other sources consider that DLPFC is attributed anatomically to BA 9 and 46 and <a href="/facts/Brodmann_area_8/3zPfsWTx">BA 8</a>, 9 and <a href="/facts/Brodmann_area_10/8Y8GBMVG">10</a>. </p><p>The DLPFC has connections with the <a href="/facts/Orbitofrontal_cortex/r61gtngW">orbitofrontal cortex</a>, as well as the <a href="/facts/Thalamus/UHDtUStc">thalamus</a>, parts of the <a href="/facts/Basal_ganglia/d9mbF6p3">basal ganglia</a> (specifically, the dorsal <a href="/facts/Caudate_nucleus/tAkRY4c0">caudate nucleus</a>), the <a href="/facts/Hippocampus/X7CqbP8X">hippocampus</a>, and primary and secondary association areas of <a href="/facts/Neocortex/YEVjPgGK">neocortex</a> (including posterior temporal, parietal, and occipital areas). The DLPFC is also the end point for the <a href="/facts/Two-streams_hypothesis/rrlVjuLm">dorsal pathway (stream)</a>, which is concerned with how to interact with stimuli. </p><p>An important function of the DLPFC is the <a href="/facts/Executive_functions/QtflLj55">executive functions</a>, such as <a href="/facts/Working_memory/kzeDD3KQ">working memory</a>, <a href="/facts/Cognitive_flexibility/5MCcwX16">cognitive flexibility</a>, planning, inhibition, and abstract reasoning. However, the DLPFC is not exclusively responsible for executive functions. All complex mental activity requires the additional cortical and subcortical circuits with which the DLPFC is connected. The DLPFC is also the highest cortical area that is involved in <a href="/facts/Motor_planning/ymj7KSJX">motor planning</a>, organization and regulation. </p>