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 theoretical field studying nomenclature is sometimes referred to as ''onymology'' or ''taxonymy'' ). The principl ...

), is a

large-scale brain network Large-scale brain networks (also known as intrinsic brain networks) are collections of widespread brain regions showing Resting state fMRI#Functional, functional connectivity by statistical analysis of the Functional magnetic resonance imaging, fMR ...

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 into adulthoo ...

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 informa ...

, 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 Memory, 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 m ...

. The FPN is one of three networks in the so-called triple-network model, along with the

salience network The salience network (SN), also referred to as the midcingulo-insular network (M-CIN) or cingulo-opercular network in anatomical parcellation schemes, is a large scale network of the human brain that is primarily composed of the anterior insula ...

and the

default mode network In neuroscience, the default mode network (DMN), also known as the default network, default state network, or anatomically the medial frontoparietal network (M-FPN), is a large-scale brain network primarily composed of the dorsal medial prefro ...

(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 cerebral cortex The cerebral cortex, also known as the cerebral mantle, is the outer la ...

) 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 neu ...

. 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 cin ...

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 b ...

, 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 pr ...

, dorsomedial

thalamus The thalamus (: thalami; from Greek language, Greek Wikt:θάλαμος, θάλαμος, "chamber") is a large mass of gray matter on the lateral wall of the third ventricle forming the wikt:dorsal, dorsal part of the diencephalon (a division of ...

and the head of the

caudate nucleus The caudate nucleus is one of the structures that make up the corpus striatum, which is part of the basal ganglia in the human brain. Although the caudate nucleus has long been associated with motor processes because of its relation to Parkinso ...

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. Efficient processing in the frontoparietal network during cognitive control tasks enables the fulfillment of cognitive demands. Based on current cognitive demands, the FPN flexibly divides into two subsystems that connect to other networks: the

for introspective processes and the

dorsal attention network The dorsal attention network (DAN), also known anatomically as the dorsal frontoparietal network (D-FPN), is a large-scale brain network of the human brain that is primarily composed of the intraparietal sulcus (IPS) and frontal eye fields (FE ...

for perceptual attention.

Clinical significance

Disruption of the nodes of the FPN has been found in virtually every psychiatric and neurological disorder, from

autism Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by differences or difficulties in social communication and interaction, a preference for predictability and routine, sensory processing d ...

schizophrenia Schizophrenia () is a mental disorder characterized variously by hallucinations (typically, Auditory hallucination#Schizophrenia, hearing voices), delusions, thought disorder, disorganized thinking and behavior, and Reduced affect display, f ...

and depression to

frontotemporal dementia Frontotemporal dementia (FTD), also called frontotemporal degeneration disease or frontotemporal neurocognitive disorder, encompasses several types of dementia involving the progressive degeneration of the brain's frontal lobe, frontal and tempor ...

and

Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events. As the disease advances, symptoms can include problems wit ...

Nomenclature

The term central executive network (CEN) is generally equivalent to the frontoparietal network in literature, distinguishing it from the

(DAN), with which it has several similarities, though sometimes it has been used to include the DAN. The FPN has fewer similarities with the

(which has also been equated with the

cingulo-opercular network The salience network (SN), also referred to as the midcingulo-insular network (M-CIN) or cingulo-opercular network in anatomical parcellation schemes, is a Large-scale brain networks, large scale network of the human brain that is primarily compo ...

or ventral attention network). 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.

References

{{Human connectomics Brain Neural circuitry

Anatomy

Function

Clinical significance

Nomenclature

See also

References