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Cognitive Control Maintenance

Meaning

Cognitive Control Maintenance describes the sustained, high-level capacity of the brain’s executive functions to regulate thought and action effectively in accordance with internal goals and ever-changing contextual demands. This essential neurobiological process encompasses the ability to focus selective attention, manage active working memory, inhibit impulsive or automatic responses, and switch flexibly between different mental tasks. Optimal hormonal balance, particularly involving the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and key sex steroids, is fundamentally required for the structural integrity and functional efficacy of the prefrontal cortex, the primary brain region governing these control processes. Maintaining this control is paramount for complex decision-making, adaptive behavior, and overall mental resilience in daily life.