Functions and organization of the human lateral prefrontal cortex

人类的思维、推理和解决问题是灵长类进化过程中出现的一些最高认知能力的缩影。这种思维在整个人类成年生活中无处不在，既存在于为解决特定问题而刻意、努力的思维过程中，也存在于自发的、无方向的思考流中，这种思维流动是自发进行的，通常与正在进行的活动或外部环境没有明显关系。这项研究从前额叶皮质组织和额叶与其他皮质区域的相互作用方面探索了大脑皮质的思维组织。使用功能磁共振成像(FMRI)对大脑皮质功能进行分区域水平的分析，一种技术，允许以高空间精度对人类大脑活动进行非侵入性测量。这项研究项目采用了一种创新的、独特的方法来研究人类思维，从神经组织的角度探索有意的和自发的思维形式。此外，它还有助于更好地了解大脑疾病和治疗应用的开发。

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.