An information theoretical approach to prefrontal executive function

• Published in: Trends in cognitive sciences Vol. 11; no. 6; pp. 229 - 235
• Main Authors: Koechlin, Etienne, Summerfield, Christopher
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Anatomical correlates of behavior; Attention - physiology; Behavioral psychophysiology; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Mapping; Decision Making - physiology; Diagnosis, Differential; Diagnostic Imaging; Dominance, Cerebral - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Information Theory; Motor Cortex - physiology; Nerve Net - physiology; Neural Networks (Computer); Neurology; Prefrontal Cortex - physiology; Problem Solving - physiology; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Somatosensory Cortex - physiology; Thinking - physiology; Human; Executive function; Central nervous system; Cognition; Review; Prefrontal cortex; Encephalon; Information theory

The prefrontal cortex subserves executive control – that is, the ability to select actions or thoughts in relation to internal goals. Here, we propose a theory that draws upon concepts from information theory to describe the architecture of executive control in the lateral prefrontal cortex. Support...