prefrontal

1 of 2

adjective

pre·​fron·​tal (ˌ)prē-ˈfrən-tᵊl How to pronounce prefrontal (audio)
: anterior to or involving the anterior part of a frontal structure
a prefrontal bone

prefrontal

2 of 2

noun

: a prefrontal part (such as a bone)

Examples of prefrontal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Adjective
Psychiatrists who invented malaria treatment — using the malaria virus to induce a high fever, hopefully killing neurosyphilis-causing bacteria — and the prefrontal lobotomy both won the Nobel Prize in Medicine while asylums were still the norm in Europe. Celia Ford, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018 Unlike the prefrontal circuitry, which continues to show developmental changes into young adulthood, the amygdala undergoes peak maturation during midadolescence. Bj Casey, Scientific American, 14 May 2024
Noun
When corrected to brain size, the domesticated rabbits' amygdala's were roughly 9-10% smaller, while their medial prefrontal cortices were about 11-12% bigger. Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 27 June 2018 Dehaene and Changeux postulated that the workspace is instantiated by a network of pyramidal (excitatory) neurons linked to far-flung cortical regions, in particular the prefrontal, parietotemporal and midline (cingulate) associative areas. Christof Koch, Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2019 See all Example Sentences for prefrontal 

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1851, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1851, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prefrontal was in 1851

Dictionary Entries Near prefrontal

Cite this Entry

“Prefrontal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prefrontal. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

prefrontal

adjective
pre·​fron·​tal ˌprē-ˈfrənt-ᵊl How to pronounce prefrontal (audio)
1
: situated or occurring anterior to a frontal structure
a prefrontal bone
2
: of, relating to, or constituting the prefrontal lobe or prefrontal cortex of the brain
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!