Fuster J M
Hum Neurobiol. 1985;4(3):169-79.
A large body of empirical evidence supports the notion of a critical role of the prefrontal cortex in the temporal organization of goal-directed behavioral sequences. The key element of that role is the bridging of cross-temporal contingencies of behavior, in other words, the adjustment of the actions of the organism to temporally distant events and objectives. By the analysis of lesion effects, neuroelectrical phenomena, and metabolic activity we are led to conclude that the prefrontal cortex subserves at least three cognitive functions that allow the mediation of cross-temporal contingencies and, thereby, the formation of temporally extended structures of behavior: short-term memory, preparatory set, and control of interference. The three have a somewhat different topographic representation within the prefrontal cortex and thus the principle of its functional heterogeneity is upheld. However, all three sustain the supraordinate role of the prefrontal cortex in the temporal integration of behavior.
大量的实证证据支持前额叶皮质在目标导向行为序列的时间组织中起关键作用这一观点。该作用的关键要素是行为的跨时间偶然性的衔接，换句话说，就是生物体的行为要根据时间上遥远的事件和目标进行调整。通过对损伤效应、神经电现象和代谢活动的分析，我们得出结论，前额叶皮质至少具备三种认知功能，这些功能能够介导跨时间偶然性，从而形成行为的时间扩展结构：短期记忆、预备集和干扰控制。这三种功能在前额叶皮质内的拓扑表征略有不同，因此其功能异质性的原则得以维持。然而，这三种功能都支持前额叶皮质在行为的时间整合中发挥的上位作用。
