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The frontoparietal network (FPN), generally also known as the central executive network (CEN) or, more specifically, the lateral frontoparietal network (L-FPN) (see
Nomenclature
Nomenclature (, ) is a system of names or terms, or the rules for forming these terms in a particular field of arts or sciences. The principles of naming vary from the relatively informal conventions of everyday speech to the internationally ag ...
), is a
large-scale brain network
Large-scale brain networks (also known as intrinsic brain networks) are collections of widespread brain regions showing functional connectivity by statistical analysis of the fMRI BOLD signal or other recording methods such as EEG, PET and MEG. ...
primarily composed of the
dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC or DL-PFC) is an area in the prefrontal cortex of the primate brain. It is one of the most recently derived parts of the human brain. It undergoes a prolonged period of maturation which lasts until adultho ...
and posterior
parietal cortex
The parietal lobe is one of the four major lobes of the cerebral cortex in the brain of mammals. The parietal lobe is positioned above the temporal lobe and behind the frontal lobe and central sulcus.
The parietal lobe integrates sensory inform ...
, around the
intraparietal sulcus
The intraparietal sulcus (IPS) is located on the lateral surface of the parietal lobe, and consists of an oblique and a horizontal portion. The IPS contains a series of functionally distinct subregions that have been intensively investigated usin ...
.
It is involved in sustained attention, complex problem-solving and
working memory
Working memory is a cognitive system with a limited capacity that can hold information temporarily. It is important for reasoning and the guidance of decision-making and behavior. Working memory is often used synonymously with short-term memory, ...
.
The FPN is one of three networks in the so-called triple-network model, along with the
salience network
The salience network (SN), also known anatomically as the midcingulo-insular network (M-CIN), is a large scale brain network of the human brain that is primarily composed of the anterior insula (AI) and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC). ...
and the
default mode network (DMN). The salience network facilitates switching between the FPN and DMN.
Anatomy
The FPN is primarily composed of the rostral lateral and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (especially the
middle frontal gyrus
The middle frontal gyrus makes up about one-third of the frontal lobe of the human brain. (A ''gyrus'' is one of the prominent "bumps" or "ridges" on the surface of the human brain.)
The middle frontal gyrus, like the inferior frontal gyrus an ...
) and the anterior
inferior parietal lobule
The inferior parietal lobule (subparietal district) lies below the horizontal portion of the intraparietal sulcus, and behind the lower part of the postcentral sulcus. Also known as Geschwind's territory after Norman Geschwind, an American neur ...
. Additional regions include the middle
cingulate gyrus
The cingulate cortex is a part of the brain situated in the medial aspect of the cerebral cortex. The cingulate cortex includes the entire cingulate gyrus, which lies immediately above the corpus callosum, and the continuation of this in the ...
and potentially the dorsal
precuneus
In neuroanatomy, the precuneus is the portion of the superior parietal lobule on the medial surface of each brain hemisphere. It is located in front of the cuneus (the upper portion of the occipital lobe). The precuneus is bounded in front by th ...
, posterior inferior
temporal lobe
The temporal lobe is one of the four major lobes of the cerebral cortex in the brain of mammals. The temporal lobe is located beneath the lateral fissure on both cerebral hemispheres of the mammalian brain.
The temporal lobe is involved in pro ...
, dorsomedial
thalamus
The thalamus (from Greek θάλαμος, "chamber") is a large mass of gray matter located in the dorsal part of the diencephalon (a division of the forebrain). Nerve fibers project out of the thalamus to the cerebral cortex in all directions, ...
and the head of the
caudate nucleus
The caudate nucleus is one of the structures that make up the corpus striatum, which is a component of the basal ganglia in the human brain. While the caudate nucleus has long been associated with motor processes due to its role in Parkinson's d ...
.
Function
The FPN is involved in executive function and goal-oriented, cognitively demanding tasks.
It is crucial for rule-based problem solving, actively maintaining and manipulating information in working memory and making decisions in the context of goal-directed behaviour.
Based on current cognitive demands, the FPN flexibly divides into two subsystems that connect to other networks: the
default mode network for introspective processes and the
dorsal attention network for perceptual attention.
Clinical significance
Disruption of the nodes of the FPN has been found in virtually every psychiatric and neurological disorder, from
autism,
schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by continuous or relapsing episodes of psychosis. Major symptoms include hallucinations (typically hearing voices), delusions, and disorganized thinking. Other symptoms include social wit ...
and
depression to
frontotemporal dementia and
Alzheimer's disease.
Nomenclature
The term central executive network (CEN) is generally equivalent to the frontoparietal network in literature,
distinguishing it from the
dorsal attention network (DAN), with which it has several similarities,
though sometimes it has been used to include the DAN.
The FPN has fewer similarities with the
salience network
The salience network (SN), also known anatomically as the midcingulo-insular network (M-CIN), is a large scale brain network of the human brain that is primarily composed of the anterior insula (AI) and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC). ...
(which has also been equated with the
cingulo-opercular network
The salience network (SN), also known anatomically as the midcingulo-insular network (M-CIN), is a large scale brain network of the human brain that is primarily composed of the anterior insula (AI) and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC). ...
or
ventral attention network
The salience network (SN), also known anatomically as the midcingulo-insular network (M-CIN), is a large scale brain network of the human brain that is primarily composed of the anterior insula (AI) and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC). ...
). Regardless, it has sometimes been grouped together with either the DAN or the salience network (usually the latter
) under the name executive control network (ECN).
The term frontoparietal control network (FPCN) has also been used, generally also for a grouping of the FPN and the salience network.
Other names for the FPN have included the multiple-demand system, extrinsic mode network, domain-general system and cognitive control network.
In 2019, Uddin et al. proposed that ''lateral frontoparietal network'' (''L-FPN'') be used as the standard name for this network.
See also
*
Default mode network
*
Salience network
The salience network (SN), also known anatomically as the midcingulo-insular network (M-CIN), is a large scale brain network of the human brain that is primarily composed of the anterior insula (AI) and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC). ...
References
{{Human connectomics
Brain
Neural circuits