Navigating a busy intersection while holding a conversation requires processing information, making quick decisions, and staying focused on a goal. This cognitive balancing act is managed by the frontoparietal network (FPN). Composed of regions in the frontal and parietal lobes, the FPN acts as the brain’s executive control center, coordinating resources to handle complex, goal-oriented tasks.
The FPN can be thought of as the brain’s air traffic control system. It oversees various cognitive processes, helping to switch between mental tasks, hold information in mind, and filter out irrelevant distractions. This network communicates with other brain networks to guide behavior based on the current situation and internal goals.
Core Responsibilities of the Frontoparietal Network
The frontoparietal network is integral to executive functions, a set of high-level mental processes that enable us to plan, focus attention, and juggle multiple tasks. One of its primary roles is in working memory, the ability to hold and mentally manipulate information over short periods. This is the system you use when solving a multi-step math problem in your head or following a new recipe.
Another major responsibility is attention control. The network helps you select what is relevant and ignore what is not, allowing you to concentrate on a book in a noisy café. The FPN also enables cognitive flexibility, the capacity to shift your attention or adapt your thinking when presented with new information.
Development Across the Lifespan
The frontoparietal network undergoes a prolonged developmental period, making it one of the last brain networks to fully mature. This maturation extends from childhood through adolescence and into early adulthood. The connections within the FPN strengthen over time, which corresponds with improvements in cognitive abilities like reasoning, planning, and impulse control.
During childhood and adolescence, the developing FPN supports major cognitive leaps. The increasing efficiency of this network is linked to advancements in academic performance and the capacity to tackle more complex problems. The maturation of the FPN is not linear, as different connections become important at different developmental stages. This gradual wiring process establishes the stable network that supports adult cognition, though subtle changes can still occur with aging.
Impact of Dysfunction
When the frontoparietal network does not function optimally, it can lead to challenges in cognitive and behavioral regulation. Individuals may struggle with sustained attention, organization, planning, and filtering out distractions because the brain’s executive control system is compromised.
Alterations in the FPN are associated with several neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions. Research points to dysfunction within this network in individuals with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), contributing to symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity. FPN dysfunction is also implicated in conditions like schizophrenia. Acquired brain injuries, such as a stroke or a traumatic brain injury affecting the frontal or parietal lobes, can also directly damage the network, leading to a sudden onset of executive function deficits that impact a person’s ability to manage daily life.
How Scientists Study the Network
Researchers use advanced tools to investigate the frontoparietal network. One of the most common is functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), which observes brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow. To see the FPN in action, scientists pair fMRI with cognitive tasks, such as asking participants to complete puzzles or memory games while inside the scanner. This approach helps link specific patterns of FPN activity to distinct cognitive processes.
Another tool is Electroencephalography (EEG), which measures the brain’s electrical activity through electrodes placed on the scalp. While fMRI offers high spatial resolution (telling you where activity happens), EEG provides excellent temporal resolution (telling you when it happens). Combining these methods gives researchers a more complete picture of how the FPN communicates with other brain networks.