Final answer:
The prefrontal cortex is responsible for complex cognitive functions such as decision making, emotional regulation, planning, and organizing. It's vital for judgment, problem-solving, and impulse control, significantly influencing personality and higher-order executive processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The function of the prefrontal cortex in the frontal lobes encompasses a variety of crucial cognitive abilities. It is fundamentally involved in executive functions which include decision making, emotional regulation, planning, organizing, problem-solving, abstract reasoning, monitoring of actions, and control of impulsive behavior. This region of the brain is pivotal in executing higher-order processes that are essential for goal-directed behavior and adapting to complex social environments. It also plays a role in working memory, which is often considered a 'mental scratch pad' necessary for the temporary storage and manipulation of information.
Problems in the prefrontal cortex can manifest in difficulties with judgment and reasoning, affecting everyday life. Assessments during a mental status exam, such as interpreting proverbs and comparing similarities between words, aim to evaluate frontal lobe function. The famous case of Phineas Gage also illustrates the significant impact of prefrontal cortex damage on personality and behavior.