Frontoparietal

Frontoparietal refers to the network of cortical regions spanning the frontal and parietal lobes that underpins adaptive, goal-directed cognition. In neuroscience, the term is most often used to describe the frontoparietal network (FPN), a distributed system including the lateral prefrontal cortex and the posterior parietal cortex. Core nodes commonly identified include the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC), frontal eye fields, the superior and inferior parietal lobules, intraparietal sulcus, and angular gyrus. The precise boundaries vary across studies and imaging methods. The FPN is generally regarded as a hub for cognitive control and flexible problem solving, coordinating information processing across the cortex.

Function and connectivity: The FPN supports high-level executive functions such as working memory, task switching, rule application, and decision making. It shows transient, context-dependent connectivity with other networks and is particularly dynamic during demanding tasks. Resting-state studies identify it as a prominent hub with anticorrelated activity relative to the default mode network, and it overlaps with regions also labeled as the dorsal attention network in some frameworks. Its activity patterns are characterized by sustained activation during complex tasks and rapid reconfiguration as task demands change.

Clinical and developmental aspects: Frontoparietal regions mature through childhood and adolescence, with peak connectivity changes in young adulthood. Alterations or lesions in frontoparietal circuitry can produce deficits in executive function, cognitive flexibility, and goal-directed behavior. Abnormal frontoparietal connectivity has been reported in conditions such as ADHD, schizophrenia, aging-related cognitive decline, and traumatic brain injury. The term is used primarily in neuroanatomy, neuroimaging, and cognitive neuroscience to refer to a broad, bilateral network rather than a single structure.