Frontal pole

General Information
Latin	Polus frontalis
Greek
TA98
TA2
FMA
Details
System	Nervous system
Artery	Anterior cerebral artery
Vein	Superior sagittal sinus
Nerve
Lymphatic drainage
Precursor
Function
Identifiers
Clinical significance
Notes

The frontal pole is the most anterior part of the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex. It is involved in various high-level cognitive functions and is a critical area for the integration of information from different parts of the brain.

Anatomy

The frontal pole is located at the anterior end of the frontal lobe, which is part of the cerebrum. It is situated anterior to the prefrontal cortex and is bounded posteriorly by the superior frontal gyrus and the middle frontal gyrus.

Blood Supply

The frontal pole receives its blood supply primarily from the anterior cerebral artery, which branches off the internal carotid artery. Venous drainage is primarily through the superior sagittal sinus.

Function

The frontal pole is associated with a variety of complex cognitive processes. It plays a significant role in:

• Executive function: The frontal pole is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior.
• Attention: It helps in focusing attention and managing attention resources.
• Memory: The frontal pole is implicated in working memory and the retrieval of episodic memories.
• Emotion: It is involved in the regulation of emotions and the processing of emotional stimuli.

Clinical Significance

Damage to the frontal pole can result in a variety of cognitive and behavioral deficits. Common symptoms include:

• Impaired decision-making and problem-solving abilities.
• Changes in personality and social behavior.
• Difficulties with attention and concentration.
• Memory impairments, particularly in working memory.

Disorders

Several neurological and psychiatric disorders are associated with dysfunction of the frontal pole, including:

• Frontal lobe syndrome: Characterized by changes in personality, impaired judgment, and inappropriate social behavior.
• Schizophrenia: Abnormalities in the frontal pole have been linked to the cognitive deficits observed in schizophrenia.
• Depression: Altered activity in the frontal pole is associated with mood disorders such as depression.

Research

Ongoing research is focused on understanding the precise role of the frontal pole in cognitive processes and its involvement in various neurological and psychiatric disorders. Advanced imaging techniques, such as functional MRI, are used to study the activity of the frontal pole in both healthy individuals and those with brain disorders.

See Also

• Frontal lobe
• Prefrontal cortex
• Executive function
• Attention
• Memory

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