i'm coming more and more to the belief that the frontal cortex is more about inhibition than anything else. All those studies that show activity in the motor areas of the brain before any activity in the frontal cortex or conscious intent to move don't leave much room for the cortex initiating actions, but do leave the option of inhibiting them. There are plenty of motivations and urges bubbling up from the more primitive brain regions, we don't need the cortex to suggest that we feed or breed. The link between teens' risky behaviors and immature frontal cortex development is a staple of parent-teacher association lectures. Anecdotal (to me, anyway) descriptions of lobotomy patients describe them as not being able to stop themselves from doing something they know they shouldn't; not just eating a sundae, but driving in to work on a Sunday when they know it's closed.

So apparently we've still got some evolving to do.