Synopsis of function and dysfunction of the frontal lobe

The cortex of the frontal lobe reaches maximum phylogenetic development in the brain of the human. It is cortex devoted to the organization of action in all neurobiological and cognitive domains - skeletal movement, eye movem ent, speech and logical reasoning. Thus the frontal cortex may be called 'm otor cortex' in the widest sense. The association cortex of the frontal lob e, commonly called prefrontal cortex, is in charge of the temporal organiza tion of behaviour, speech and thinking. Prefrontal lesions frequently lead to disorders of temporal organization, especially in thinking and the spoke n language. The prefrontal cortex serves temporal organization by coordinat ing three cognitive operations that are essential for the formation of 'ges talts' in the time domain: (i) preparatory set; (ii) working memory; and (i ii) inhibitory control of interference. Temporal organization is disturbed in the schizophrenic patient, probably because of a functional disorder of the connectivity between the prefrontal cortex and other cortical areas, as well as limbic and striatal structures (a 'disconnection syndrome').