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
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Adjective
Siracusa says this may be because animals lack a very sophisticated prefrontal cortical function necessary for long-term planning. Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 15 Jan. 2025 This could profoundly affect the future of humanity within just a few generations by weakening the human prefrontal lobe—the very region that grants us our unique cognitive superiority over all other species. Dr. Adil Dalal, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
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 26 Jan. 2025.

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
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