Functions and organization of the human lateral prefrontal cortex

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Human thought, reasoning and problem solving epitomize some of the highest cognitive abilities that have emerged in the course of primate evolution.  Thinking occurs ubiquitously throughout human adult life, both in the form of deliberate, effortful thought processes directed towards the solution of a particular problem, and in the form of spontaneous, undirected thought flow that proceeds of its own accord and often bears no apparent relation to ongoing activities or the external environment.  This research explores the cortical organization of thought in terms of prefrontal cortex organization and frontal lobe interactions with other cortical regions.  A subregional level of analysis of cortical function is carried out using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), a technique that allows for non-invasive measurement of brain activation in humans with high degree of spatial precision. This research program takes an innovative, unique approach to the study of human thought, by exploring both deliberate and spontaneous forms of thinking in terms of their neural organization.  It also contributes to a greater understanding of brain disorders and the development of treatment applications.