Table 1.

Important functions and corresponding impairments associated with prefrontal cortex

Function	Impairment
Attention	Impaired attention to novel stimuli, impaired selective attention
Memory and learning	Poor working memory (impairment in brief and transient storage and processing of information)
	Poor temporal memory (difficulty in remembering temporal status of events i.e., difficulty in ascertaining relative recency of different events)
	Poor prospective memory (difficulty in remembering intentions for carrying out future actions)
	Increased sensitivity to proactive interference
Executive functions	Poor planning of behavior
	Poor strategy formation and problem solving
	Poor decision making
	Poor set-shifting
Motor behavior	Unsystematic gaze movements
	Poor movement programming (e.g., problem in alternating movements of hands)
	Poor fine movement
	Motor impersistence, perseveration
	Unilateral hypokinesia and unilateral motor neglect
Speech	Expressive aphasia
	Decreased verbal fluency
Self-control	Grasp reflex (automatic tendency to grip objects coming in contact of hand)
	Groping response (the hand tends to follow and manipulate an object, e.g., holding, rubbing, etc., following tactile stimulation. Apart from hands, often the eyes also follow the object in somewhat magnetic fashion)
	Imitation behavior (tendency to imitate other's gestures or movements)
	Utilization behavior (appropriate movement done in a context that is inappropriate, e.g., while eating the patient may pick up a comb and start combing his hair just because a comb has been kept in front of him by someone)
Abstract thinking	More reliance on concrete and superficial clues
Affect	Inappropriate or blunted affect
Sphincter control	Little or no concern about urinating or defecating at inappropriate places