Anatomical and functional studies of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) have identified multiple PFC subregions. We argue that the PFC is involved in cognitive functions exceeding the sum of specific functions attributed to its subregions. These can be revealed either by lesions of the whole PFC, or more specifically by selective disconnection of the PFC from certain types of information (for example, visual) allowing the investigation of PFC function in toto. Recent studies in macaque monkeys using the latter approach lead to a second conclusion: that the PFC, as a whole, could be fundamentally specialized for representing events that are extended in time. The representation of temporally complex events might underlie PFC involvement in general intelligence, decision-making, and executive function.

中文翻译：

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前额叶皮层的功能定位：只见树木不见森林？

前额叶皮层 (PFC) 的解剖学和功能研究已经确定了多个 PFC 亚区。我们认为，PFC 参与的认知功能超过了归因于其子区域的特定功能的总和。这些可以通过整个 PFC 的病变来揭示，或者更具体地说，可以通过选择性地将 PFC 与某些类型的信息（例如，视觉）断开连接，从而全面调查 PFC 功能。最近使用后一种方法对猕猴进行的研究得出了第二个结论：作为一个整体，PFC 可以从根本上专门用于表示时间延长的事件。时间复杂事件的表征可能是 PFC 参与一般智能、决策和执行功能的基础。