Department of Psychology, Colby College, Waterville, ME 04901-8855, USA.
Cortex. 2012 Jan;48(1):58-81. doi: 10.1016/j.cortex.2011.03.004. Epub 2011 Mar 15.
One dimension of understanding the functions of the prefrontal cortex is knowledge of cortical connectivity. We have surveyed three aspects of prefrontal cortical connections: local projections (within the frontal lobe), the termination patterns of long association (post-Rolandic) projections, and the trajectories of major fiber pathways. The local connections appear to be organized in relation to dorsal (hippocampal origin) and ventral (paleocortical origin) architectonic trends. According to the proposal of a dual origin of the cerebral cortex, cortical areas can be traced as originating from archicortex (hippocampus) on the one hand, and paleocortex, on the other hand, in a stepwise manner (e.g., Sanides, 1969; Pandya and Yeterian, 1985). Prefrontal areas within each trend are connected with less architectonically differentiated areas, and also with more differentiated areas. Such organization may allow for the systematic exchange of information within each architectonic trend. The long connections of the prefrontal cortex with post-Rolandic regions seem to be organized preferentially in relation to dorsal and ventral prefrontal architectonic trends. Prefrontal areas are connected with post-Rolandic auditory, visual and somatosensory association areas, and with multimodal and paralimbic regions. This long connectivity likely works in conjunction with local connections to serve prefrontal cortical functions. The afferent and efferent connections of the prefrontal cortex with post-Rolandic regions are conveyed by specific long association pathways. These pathways as well appear to be organized in relation to dorsal and ventral prefrontal architectonic trends. Finally, although prefrontal areas have preferential connections in relation to dual architectonic trends, it is clear that there are interconnections between and among areas in each trend, which may provide a substrate for the overall integrative function of the prefrontal cortex. Prefrontal corticocortical connectivity may help to elucidate both region-specific and integrative perspectives on the functions of the prefrontal cortex.
理解前额叶皮层功能的一个维度是皮质连接的知识。我们调查了前额叶皮质连接的三个方面：局部投射（额叶内）、长联合（罗兰后）投射的终止模式以及主要纤维通路的轨迹。局部连接似乎与背侧（海马起源）和腹侧（古皮质起源）结构趋势有关。根据大脑皮层双重起源的建议，皮质区域可以从一方面追溯到archicortex（海马），另一方面追溯到古皮质，以逐步的方式（例如，Sanides，1969；Pandya 和 Yeterian，1985）。每个趋势内的前额叶区域与结构上分化较少的区域以及更分化的区域相连。这种组织可能允许在每个结构趋势内系统地交换信息。前额叶皮层与罗兰后区域的长连接似乎优先与背侧和腹侧前额叶结构趋势有关。前额叶区域与罗兰后听觉、视觉和躯体感觉联合区域以及多模态和边缘区域相连。这种长连接可能与局部连接一起作用，以服务于前额叶皮质的功能。前额叶皮层与罗兰后区域的传入和传出连接由特定的长联合通路传递。这些通路似乎也与背侧和腹侧前额叶结构趋势有关。最后，尽管前额叶区域与双重结构趋势有优先连接，但很明显，每个趋势中的区域之间和之间都有相互连接，这可能为前额叶皮层的整体综合功能提供基础。前额叶皮质内连接可能有助于阐明前额叶皮层功能的区域特异性和整合观点。
