Why The 'Executive Center' of the Brain Matters Most
Daniel G. Amen, M.D.
Double Board-Certified Psychiatrist, 12-Time New York Times Best-Selling Author, Founder of Amen Clinics
What part of the brain makes up about 30 percent of the human brain – compared with just 11 percent for chimpanzees, 7 percent for dogs, 3 percent for cats (perhaps why they need nine lives), and 1 percent for mice (perhaps why they are eaten by cats)?
If you guessed the prefrontal cortex (PFC), you’re right. The PFC is located behind the forehead, is the most evolved part of the human brain, and is involved with:
- Focus
- Forethought
- Judgment
- Organization
- Planning
- Impulse control
- Empathy
- Learning from mistakes
What Does the Prefrontal Cortex Do?
Our ability as a species to think, plan ahead, use time wisely, and communicate with others is heavily influenced by this part of the brain. The PFC is responsible for behaviors that are necessary for you to be goal-directed, socially responsible, and effective.
Research shows that the PFC continues to develop beyond puberty into late adolescence and even into the mid-20s. Even though we think of 18 year olds as adults, their brains are far from finished.
Problems in the Prefrontal Cortex
Think of the PFC like the boss at work. When it is low in activity, it is as if the boss is gone, so there is little to no supervision and nothing gets done. When the PFC works too hard, it is as if the boss is micromanaging everyone, and people are left with anxiety and worry.
Head Injuries
Due to its location, the PFC is especially susceptible to head injury. Unfortunately for the PFC, much of it sits on top of several sharp, bony ridges inside the skull, and lies just beneath the place where many blows to the head occur. Many people do not fully understand how head injuries, even “minor” ones, can alter a person’s character and ability to learn.
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
ADD, also referred to occasionally as ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), typically occurs as a result of neurological dysfunction in the PFC. When people with ADD try to concentrate, PFC activity decreases rather than increases.
People with ADD show symptoms such as:
- Poor internal supervision
- Short attention span
- Distractibility
- Disorganization
- Hyperactivity (although only half the people with ADD are hyperactive)
- Impulse control problems
- Difficulty learning from past errors
- Lack of forethought
- Procrastination
Without proper PFC function, it is difficult to act in consistent, thoughtful ways, and impulses take over. Impulse control problems may lead to behaviors such as lying, stealing, having affairs, and excessive spending.
4 Ways to Strengthen the Executive Center of Your Brain
- Exercise 30 minutes every day. Exercise boosts blood flow to the PFC leading to better decisions.
- Get eight hours of sleep every night. Less sleep equals lower overall blood flow to the PFC resulting in poor decision making.
- Keep your blood sugar balanced throughout the day with healthy snacks, green tea, and the vitamins and nutrients you need.Low blood sugar levels are associated with lower overall blood flow to the brain, poor impulse control, irritability, and bad decisions.
- Always ask “Then what?” These are the two most important words in the English language when it comes to your health. Think about the consequences of your behavior before you act.
Taking care of your brain is the single most important thing you can do for your health, your life, and the lives of those around you. Having a PFC that works optimally also helps you to be smarter, healthier, happier – and even wealthier – because you develop the ability to think before acting and weigh the consequences.
Contact Amen Clinics today to help you understand your brain and create a treatment plan that is targeted to your brain’s unique needs.
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About the Author: Daniel G. Amen, M.D. is a double board-certified psychiatrist, professor and 10-time New York Times bestselling author. He is one of the world's foremost experts on using brain imaging tools to help optimize and treat patients. He is founder of Amen Clinics, which has the world’s largest database of functional brain scans relating to behavior.
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8 年Informative as usual! Thank you :)
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8 年The prefrontal cortex is largest in man. Larger in higher order primates as we go up the evolutionary chain. Man is the most violent creature on Earth. Chimpanzees have the next largest prefrontal cortex, the next largest neocortex, and share 99% of our DNA. They are the only other species to commit war on one another. Going down the chain of DNA and neoortical size, next are gorillas, who are occasionally testy, and orang-utans, who are peaceful unless provoked. To call the prefrontal cortex "more important" is to celebrate intellectual function and the violence that comes with it over physical robustness and emotional intelligence, if we are to call it that. There is no "free lunch" in nature.
Another great article! It was a great pleasure to meet you some time ago. I still enjoy all your work.
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8 年Thank you kind sir. Shared and commented.