anterioraC

anterioraC is a term found in speculative neuroscience and some science fiction literature to denote a hypothetical anterior cortical subsystem responsible for forward-looking action planning and context-sensitive control of behavior. The name fuses “anterior” with “aC,” a shorthand that in these discussions stands for anterior computation or anterior cortex. It is not an established anatomical structure in humans, and there is no agreement on its neural substrate or connectivity in real brains.

Concept and proposed function: In theoretical models, anterioraC is imagined as a control center that generates prospective action sequences, evaluates competing plans, and selects actions based on goals, expected value, and situational context. It is proposed to interface with sensory processing areas to obtain current evidence and with motor regions to implement chosen plans. Some accounts attribute a role in working memory, timing, and rule-guided behavior.

Relation to real brain systems: While some writers loosely map anterioraC onto parts of the prefrontal cortex (for example, dorsolateral or ventromedial regions) and the frontoparietal control network, these mappings are speculative. No direct neurophysiological data define an anterioraC as a distinct cortical entity.

Reception and use: AnterioraC is mainly used for thought experiments, to illustrate how future-oriented control could operate, or in AI architectures intended to mimic planning. It is occasionally referenced in world-building, where authors describe a centralized planning module distinct from sensory and motor systems.

See also: prefrontal cortex, executive function, anterior cingulate cortex, frontoparietal control network.