Ventromedial prefrontal cortex
Overview
The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) is a part of the prefrontal cortex in the mammalian brain. The ventromedial prefrontal cortex is located in the frontal lobe at the bottom of the cerebral hemispheres and is implicated in the processing of risk and fear, as it is critical in the regulation of amygdala activity in humans and other animals.
Anatomy
The vmPFC includes the medial part of the orbitofrontal cortex, the rostral (anterior) part of the anterior cingulate cortex, and the ventromedial part of the frontal pole. It is bounded medially by the cingulate sulcus, laterally by the lateral orbital sulcus, and rostrally by the frontal pole. The vmPFC is connected to various other brain regions, including the amygdala, the hippocampus, the thalamus, and the hypothalamus.
Function
The vmPFC has been implicated in a variety of complex behaviors, including decision-making, emotion regulation, and memory processing. It is also involved in the regulation of autonomic and endocrine responses, pain processing, and the representation of internal bodily states.
Decision Making
The vmPFC plays a crucial role in decision-making processes, particularly in situations involving reward and punishment. It is involved in the evaluation of rewards, the representation of reward values, and the use of this information to guide decision-making.
Emotion Regulation
The vmPFC is involved in the regulation of emotion. It plays a role in the inhibition of emotional responses, and its dysfunction has been linked to mood and anxiety disorders.
Memory Processing
The vmPFC is involved in the processing of memory, particularly in the consolidation and retrieval of autobiographical memories. It also plays a role in the extinction of conditioned fear responses, a process that is important for the treatment of anxiety disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
Clinical Significance
Damage to the vmPFC can result in a variety of cognitive and behavioral changes, including poor decision-making, impulsivity, and changes in personality. It has been implicated in a number of psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety disorders, and schizophrenia. It is also involved in neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
Depression
In depression, there is often decreased activity in the vmPFC. This is associated with increased negative thinking and rumination, and decreased ability to regulate emotion.
Anxiety Disorders
In anxiety disorders, there is often increased activity in the vmPFC. This is associated with increased fear and anxiety, and impaired ability to extinguish fear responses.
Schizophrenia
In schizophrenia, there is often decreased activity in the vmPFC. This is associated with impaired decision-making and social cognition, and increased negative symptoms.
Research
Research on the vmPFC has focused on its role in decision-making, emotion regulation, and memory processing. This has been done using a variety of methods, including neuroimaging, neuropsychological testing, and studies of patients with vmPFC damage.