ABSTRACT
As highlighted earlier, activity within frontal cortex has been associated consistently with encoding of verbal materials into episodic memory. Frontal cortex, however, is a heterogeneous region that contains numerous anatomically distinct areas as defined by changes in the distribution of cell types and density, interconnections to other brain areas, and physiological properties (Goldman-Rakic, 1987). Based on these characteristics, multiple distinct areas have been well characterised in non-human primates and to a lesser extent, in humans (e.g. Barbas & Pandya, 1989; Brodmann, 1909/1994; Carmichael & Price, 1994; Petrides & Pandya, 1994; Preuss & GoldmanRakic, 1991; Rajkowska & Goldman-Rakic, 1995a,b). Thus, it is a natural question to ask whether the relation between frontal activity and encoding demonstrates regional specificity that may derive from activity within distinct anatomic areas. The probable answer is yes.
