The human prefrontal cortex is a structurally and functionally heterogenous brain region, including multiple subregions that have been linked to different large-scale brain networks. It contributes to a broad range of mental phenomena, from goal-directed thought and executive functions to mind-wandering and psychedelic experience. Here we review what is known about the functions of different prefrontal subregions and their affiliations with large-scale brain networks to examine how they may differentially contribute to the diversity of mental phenomena associated with prefrontal function. An important dimension that distinguishes across different kinds of conscious experience is the stability or variability of mental states across time. This dimension is a central feature of two recently introduced theoretical frameworks—the dynamic framework of thought (DFT) and the relaxed beliefs under psychedelics (REBUS) model—that treat neurocognitive dynamics as central to understanding and distinguishing between different mental phenomena. Here, we bring these two frameworks together to provide a synthesis of how prefrontal subregions may differentially contribute to the stability and variability of thought and conscious experience. We close by considering future directions for this work.

人类前额叶皮层是一个结构和功能异质的大脑区域，包括与不同的大规模大脑网络相连的多个子区域。它促成了广泛的心理现象，从目标导向的思维和执行功能到走神和迷幻体验。在这里，我们回顾了不同前额叶分区的功能及其与大规模大脑网络的联系，以研究它们如何对与前额叶功能相关的心理现象的多样性做出不同的贡献。区分不同种类意识体验的一个重要维度是心理状态随时间的稳定性或可变性。这个维度是最近引入的两个理论框架的核心特征——思想的动态框架（DFT）和迷幻剂下的放松信念（REBUS）模型——将神经认知动力学视为理解和区分不同心理现象的核心。在这里，我们将这两个框架结合在一起，综合说明前额叶分区如何对思想和意识体验的稳定性和可变性做出不同的贡献。最后，我们考虑这项工作的未来方向。