THE PREFRONTAL CORTEX—EXECUTIVE AND COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS.

Edited by A. C. Roberts, T. W. Robbins and L. Weiskrantz . 1998. Pp. 248. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Price £22.99. ISBN 0-19-852441-2. The function of the prefrontal cortex is as fascinating as it is elusive. Whilst damage to more posterior regions produces fairly blatant deficits of function, the effect of frontal brain lesions has proved far more difficult to characterize, although no less devastating to the lives of patients. Early reports told of individuals with no apparent loss of intellectual function, yet whose behaviour changed so drastically that they were never able to resume the lives that they had led before. Part of the problem has undoubtedly been that the cognitive processes underlying abilities which are impaired by prefrontal damage, such as planning, reasoning and problem solving, have not been well understood. A strong theoretical framework within which to interpret the effects of frontal lesions has therefore been lacking. This situation has now changed considerably and the chapters in The Prefrontal Cortex—Executive and Cognitive Functions reflect the ever-increasing degree of theoretical, and technical, sophistication that has been brought to bear on this area of study. The book consists of 15 chapters based on contributions to a discussion meeting of the Royal Society of London. As one would expect from a meeting of this calibre, the contributions are from some of the most prominent researchers in the field. An introduction by A. C. Roberts …