The pre-frontal cortex: links between neuropsychological performance and the sleep and wake EEG

The Pre-Frontal Cortex (PFC) has one of the highest Cerebral Metabolic Rates (CMR) during wakefulness (Braun et al., 1997, Maquet et al., 1990) and the lowest CMR during Slow Wave Sleep (SWS) at night (Maquet, 2000) .Inasmuch that the PFC is a focus for low frequency delta activity (e g. Werth et al., 1996, 1997), generated directly by the cortex (Steriade et al., 1993a-c), it is argued, here, that this serves a localised function of sleep and is thus reflective of enhanced recovery. Given the PFC-delta activity link, Clark et al. (1998) assessed daytime regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and found increased 'brainwork' during the day resulted in increased delta activity at night, specifically in the (left) PFC. [Continues.]