concept

medial prefrontal cortex

Also known as: MPFC, medial pre-frontal cortex, mPFC, medial frontal cortex

Facts (29)

Sources
The Mechanisms of Psychedelic Visionary Experiences - Frontiers frontiersin.org Frontiers Sep 27, 2017 12 facts
referenceBarrett and Griffiths (2017) identified parallels in the neural bases of psychedelic and meditative effects on the Default Mode Network (DMN), specifically hypothesizing that visionary experiences result from decreased activity and functional connectivity in the medial nodes of the DMN (PCC and MPFC), which mediate self-referential processing.
referenceThe integrated cognitive and emotional functions of the dorsal and ventral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) function as a 'life simulator' that uses past experiences to explore anticipated social events and future scenarios, according to Washington and VanMeter (2015).
claimEpileptic seizures, including complex partial, generalized tonic-clonic, and absence seizures, impair primary nodes of the Default Mode Network (DMN), specifically the precuneus/PCC, medial frontal cortex, lateral parietal cortex, and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), resulting in long-lasting decreases in DMN activity.
claimThe reduction in oscillatory activity and power in the Default Mode Network caused by psilocybin results from decreased functional coupling between the frontal cortex and the medial temporal lobe components of the Default Mode Network, as well as between the medial prefrontal cortex and the posterior cingulate cortex.
referenceA 2017 study by Scheibnera et al. on mindful attention practices found significantly less neural activation in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), as well as reduced activity in the left temporoparietal junction.
referenceThe mirror neuron system (MNS) and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) node of the default mode network (DMN) interact significantly during mentalizing and embodied simulation processes, according to Molnar-Szakacs and Uddin (2013).
referenceThe Default Mode Network (DMN) is based in the medial and lateral cortices of the parietal and temporal lobes, as well as the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), according to Raichle (2015).
claimIn mindfulness meditation conditions, the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) show less activity in meditators compared to control groups.
referencePalhano-Fontes et al. (2015) found that ayahuasca consumption causes a significant decrease in activity throughout most parts of the Default Mode Network, particularly in the posterior cingulate cortex, precuneus, and medial prefrontal cortex, while also reducing functional connectivity within the posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus.
measurementPalhano-Fontes et al. (2015) reported that ayahuasca causes decreased posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) activity, increased medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) activity, and decreased retrosplenial cortex (RSC) activity.
referenceWashington and VanMeter (2015) characterized the connectivity between the dorsal and ventral regions of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the dorsal and ventral areas of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) as the most anterior area of functional connectivity within the default mode network (DMN).
referenceThe Default Mode Network primarily involves connections among the thalamus, posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and areas of the limbic system (parahippocampal cortex and the hippocampus) that function as a network for information routing and integration, as described by Buckner et al. (2008).
Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART) frontiersin.org Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 9 facts
claimNovices exhibit strong functional coupling between the right posterior insular cortex (PIC) and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), whereas meditators show more significant connectivity between the right posterior insular cortex (PIC) and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC).
claimExtinction learning in rats can be accelerated and strengthened through the modulation of molecular systems and pharmacological noradrenergic and dopamine systems, such as D-cycloserine, in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), according to Quirk et al. (2010).
claimThe medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the temporoparietal junction (TPJ) are involved in mentalizing and Theory of Mind (ToM).
referenceB. K. Holzel, U. Ott, H. Hempel, A. Hackl, K. Wolf, R. Stark, et al. published a 2007 study in Neuroscience Letters regarding the differential engagement of the anterior cingulate and adjacent medial frontal cortex in adept meditators and non-meditators.
claimGray matter (GM) concentration in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is correlated with the amount of meditation practice.
measurementMeditators with approximately 1000 hours of practice exhibit increased functional connectivity within areas specific to the neural system (NS) network, such as the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and regions associated with primary interoceptive awareness.
measurementA study investigating acute pain in experienced meditators found that medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) activation was negatively correlated with pain unpleasantness ratings in a non-meditative state.
claimThe thickness of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is directly correlated with extinction retention after fear conditioning, suggesting that increased mPFC size following training may explain the ability of meditators to modulate fear, as noted by Milad et al. (2005), Ott et al. (2010a), and Holzel et al. (2011b).
referenceEtkin, Egner, and Kalisch (2011) reviewed emotional processing in the anterior cingulate and medial prefrontal cortex in Trends in Cognitive Sciences.
A Synergistic Workspace for Human Consciousness Revealed by ... elifesciences.org eLife 3 facts
claimRegions showing consistent decreases in ΦR during loss of consciousness were primarily members of the global synergistic workspace, specifically the default mode network (bilateral precuneus and medial prefrontal cortex) and bilateral inferior parietal cortex, with involvement of left temporal cortices.
claimReductions of ΦR in the medial prefrontal cortex and posterior cingulate/precuneus are reliably observed across different analytic approaches, confirming the robustness of these specific findings.
claimThe default mode network (DMN) comprises the posterior cingulate, precuneus, medial prefrontal cortex, and inferior parietal cortices.
Effects of psychedelics on neurogenesis and broader neuroplasticity link.springer.com Springer Dec 19, 2024 2 facts
claimThe antidepressant actions of 2R,6R-hydroxynorketamine (2R,6R-HNK) require activity-dependent BDNF signaling to increase synaptic function in the medial prefrontal cortex.
claimIn ex vivo slices from P14-P21 mice, 1µM DOI induced Long-Term Depression (LTD) in mPFC layer 5 pyramidal neurons, reducing the amplitude of AMPA excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSC) from layer 1 pyramidal stimuli by nearly half; this effect was mediated by 5-HT2AR and required the internalization of GluA2-containing AMPA receptors via Protein kinase C (PKC).
Ancient Roots of Today's Emerging Renaissance in ... link.springer.com Springer 1 fact
claimClassic psychedelics initiate a cascade of altered neural connectivity and blood-flow across brain regions including the default-mode network (medial prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, inferior parietal lobule, lateral temporal cortex, hippocampus, and precuneus), the amygdala, the thalamus, and the claustrum.
Psychedelics, Sociality, and Human Evolution frontiersin.org Frontiers 1 fact
claimDe Gregorio et al. (2021b) demonstrated that repeated administration of low doses of LSD in mice enhances social interaction by potentiating 5-HT2A and AMPA receptor neurotransmission in the medial prefrontal cortex via increased phosphorylation of the mTORC1 protein.
Neuroimaging in psychedelic drug development: past, present, and ... nature.com Nature Sep 27, 2023 1 fact
claimPatients with treatment-resistant depression treated with psilocybin showed differences in the functional connectivity of the medial pre-frontal cortex and hippocampus.