What distinguishes the prefrontal cortex from the subcortex?

The prefrontal cortex is primarily involved in executive functions, which include complex cognitive processes such as decision-making, problem-solving, planning, and impulse control. This part of the brain plays a crucial role in regulating behavior and managing social interactions, making it essential for higher-level thinking and reasoning. Its connections to various other brain regions allow it to integrate information and facilitate strategic thinking and foresight.

In contrast, the subcortex encompasses structures that are typically involved in more automatic and instinctual functions, often associated with basic life processes, such as the regulation of emotions, movement, and routine behaviors. The specific roles of these areas, such as the amygdala in emotion processing and the basal ganglia in motor control, highlight their contribution to essential but more fundamental functions compared to the advanced capabilities of the prefrontal cortex. This distinction in function helps to clarify why executive functioning is attributed specifically to the prefrontal cortex.