The relationship between prefrontal cortex and concentration in the brain

The prefrontal cortex is the core brain area that affects concentration, and its functional strength directly determines an individual's attention control ability. The prefrontal cortex maintains a focused state by regulating neurotransmitter secretion, inhibiting interfering information, and integrating cognitive resources. Damage or developmental abnormalities may lead to diseases such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

1. Neural regulatory mechanism

The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex regulates attention intensity through the dopamine and noradrenaline neurotransmitter system, and neurons in this area can enhance the transmission efficiency of target related signals while suppressing the interference activity of the default mode network. Clinical studies have found that changes in blood flow in this area are positively correlated with sustained attention task performance, and attention deficit symptoms may occur when the area is damaged.

2. Information filtering function

The ventromedial prefrontal cortex has a selective attention filtering function, which suppresses irrelevant stimulus inputs from the thalamus and sensory cortex, reduces environmental interference, and prioritizes the processing of important information. Functional nuclear magnetic resonance imaging shows that the higher the activation level of this area during the Stroop task, the stronger the subject's ability to resist interference.

III. Cognitive Resource Allocation

The prefrontal cortex dynamically allocates limited cognitive resources to different tasks through collaborative work with the anterior cingulate gyrus. This executive control function enables humans to flexibly switch attention focus. In the dual task experiment, patients with frontal lobe injury showed significant attention allocation disorders and task switching delays.

Fourth, the impact of critical developmental periods

The myelination process of the prefrontal cortex in childhood is synchronized with attention development, and abnormal synaptic pruning in this area before puberty may lead to sustained attention deficit. Tracking studies have shown that the thickness of the prefrontal cortex reaches its peak between the ages of 12-15, during which neural plasticity is strongest and is the golden window period for attention training.

V. Pathological Status Correlation

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder patients generally have insufficient activation and structural abnormalities in the prefrontal cortex, manifested as inhibitory control function deficits. Transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy can improve symptoms by enhancing the excitability of the prefrontal cortex, and drugs such as methylphenidate can temporarily increase dopamine levels in this area to enhance focus.

Regular aerobic exercise can promote frontal lobe blood flow perfusion, and omega-3 fatty acids in the Mediterranean diet contribute to myelin formation. Mindfulness meditation can enhance the functional connectivity between the prefrontal cortex and the limbic system. It is recommended to perform 15 minutes of breathing concentration training daily. For children, building blocks and delayed gratification games are safe and effective ways to cultivate attention, while adults can try double n-back working memory training. When there is sustained attention decline accompanied by executive dysfunction, timely neuropsychological assessment is necessary to rule out organic diseases.