Functions and organization of the human lateral prefrontal cortex

人类的思考、推理和解决问题的能力集中体现了灵长类进化过程中出现的一些最高认知能力。 思考在人类成年后的生活中无处不在，既有针对特定问题解决方案的深思熟虑的、努力的思维过程，也有自发的、无定向的思维流，这种思维流是根据自身的雅阁进行的，通常与正在进行的活动或外部环境没有明显的关系。 本研究从前额叶皮层组织和额叶与其他皮层区域的相互作用两个方面探讨了思维的皮层组织。 使用功能性磁共振成像（fMRI）对皮质功能进行次区域水平的分析，该技术可以以高度的空间精度非侵入性测量人类大脑激活。该研究项目采用创新的，独特的方法来研究人类思维，通过探索他们的神经组织方面的故意和自发的思维形式。 它还有助于更好地了解大脑疾病和治疗应用的发展。

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.