Frontoparietal control network

The frontoparietal control network is the brain’s flexible, moment-to-moment control system. It is anchored in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the inferior parietal lobule, with contributions from the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, and it adjusts its connectivity to whichever task is currently active.

Because it can couple with both the default mode network and the dorsal attention network, it is thought to mediate between internally and externally directed processing, implementing working memory, rule switching, and other components of executive control. This adaptability is why it is sometimes described as a flexible hub.

Reduced frontoparietal control engagement is associated with impairments in executive function across ageing and a range of psychiatric and neurological conditions.