Contrasting roles for cingulate and orbitofrontal cortex in decisions and social behaviour
Abstract
There is general acknowledgement that both the anterior cingulate and orbitofrontal cortex are implicated in reinforcement-guided decision making, and emotion and social behaviour. Despite the interest that these areas generate in both the cognitive neuroscience laboratory and the psychiatric clinic, ideas about the distinctive contributions made by each have only recently begun to emerge. This reflects an increasing understanding of the component processes that underlie reinforcement-guided decision making, such as the representation of reinforcement expectations, the exploration, updating and representation of action values, and the appreciation that choices are guided not just by the prospect of reward but also by the costs that action entails. Evidence is emerging to suggest that the anterior cingulate and orbitofrontal cortex make distinct contributions to each of these aspects of decision making.
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Orbital frontal lesions, which spare the cingulum, disrupt emotional responsiveness to non-social cues.
“In contrast, orbital frontal lesions (which spare the cingulum) additionally disrupt emotional responsiveness to non-social cues, e.g., to a snake (Rushworth et al., 2007).”
From The cingulum bundle: Anatomy, function, and dysfunction (2018) · cites this paper as Rushworth et al., 2007
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- Authors
- Rushworth, M. F. S., Behrens, T. E. J., Rudebeck, P. H., & Walton, M. E.
- Affiliations
- John Radcliffe Hospital (GB)
- University of Oxford (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Rushworth, M.F.S.
- Venue
- Trends in Cognitive Sciences
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2007-04
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 168-176
- ISSN
- 1364-6613 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2000226539
- Cited by
- 507
- References
- 13
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 30 · 2015: 32 · 2014: 39 · 2013: 34 · 2012: 40
- FWCI
- 3.42
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Trends in Cognitive Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Royal Society
- Medical Research Council
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › General Decision Sciences › Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
- Keywords
- anterior cingulate cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, social behavior, action value, reward, exploration, emotions
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Decision Making, Frontal Lobe, Gyrus Cinguli, Humans, Social Behavior, Intention
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