Seminar by Lorenzo Ferrucci 11/10/2024

Friday 11 October 2024, at 14:30 Salle Henri Gastaut

Lorenzo Ferrucci (Sapienza, Universita di Roma) invited by Simon Nougaret

New insights into frontal pole functions from neurophysiology studies in the macaque monkey

Abstract: The frontal pole ( or Brodmann’s Area 10) represents the most anterior region of the prefrontal cortex and is an area of particular interest from an evolutionary perspective since it developed only in anthropoid primates, reaching its greatest extent in the human brain. Its anatomical and cytoarchitectural features, including a pronounced network of afferent connections, suggest that this area possesses a strong integrative capacity that enables it to play a higher-order role in cognitive processes.  Current knowledge about the frontal pole functions comes mainly from non-invasive functional neuroimaging studies conducted on human subjects, while comparative studies with animal models, especially those aimed at investigating its electrophysiological properties, are scarce. This talk will outline the main results of the most recent neurophysiology experiments in the frontal pole in the macaque brain, aimed at investigating the role of this area in monitoring one’s own and others’ actions, and the neural correlates of exploration and rapid learning. These studies offers a first attempt to bridge different results obtained with different methodologies in human and non-human primate species, with the goal of taking a step forward in creating a comprehensive framework of the frontopolar cortex functions.