frontoparietalen

Frontoparietalen, commonly referred to in English as the frontoparietal network or frontoparietal control network, denotes a set of interconnected frontal and parietal cortical regions that support high-level cognitive control and flexible, goal-directed behavior. The exact composition varies by study, but core components typically include lateral prefrontal areas such as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the frontal eye fields, the inferior and superior parietal cortices, and sometimes premotor regions like the supplementary motor area. These regions form a cohesive network that can be flexibly reconfigured to meet task demands.

Anatomically, key nodes involve the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (often in the middle frontal gyrus), the frontal eye fields, the inferior parietal lobule (including the angular and supramarginal gyri), and the superior parietal lobule. The network may also encompass adjacent prefrontal and premotor areas. Collectively, these regions are linked by white-matter pathways that support rapid communication across frontal and parietal zones.

Functionally, the frontoparietal regions are implicated in adaptive cognitive control, goal maintenance, planning, working-memory manipulation, and task switching. They help select and prioritize goals, coordinate complex actions, and implement top-down attention to relevant information while suppressing distractions.

Interactions with other networks are an important feature. The frontoparietal network often collaborates with the dorsal attention network during demanding tasks and can reconfigure its connectivity with the default mode network and salience network as task demands shift. Functional connectivity within the frontoparietal system increases during challenging tasks, and disruptions to its connectivity are associated with several neuropsychological conditions, including ADHD, schizophrenia, and aging.