Cited by 856Neural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesMemory and Neural MechanismsNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

Ventromedial prefrontal–subcortical systems and the generation of affective meaning

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Roy, Mathieu, Shohamy, Daphna, Wager, Tor D.·2012·Trends in Cognitive Sciences

Abstract

The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) comprises a set of interconnected regions that integrate information from affective sensory and social cues, long-term memory, and representations of the 'self'. Alhough the vmPFC is implicated in a variety of seemingly disparate processes, these processes are organized around a common theme. The vmPFC is not necessary for affective responses per se, but is critical when affective responses are shaped by conceptual information about specific outcomes. The vmPFC thus functions as a hub that links concepts with brainstem systems capable of coordinating organism-wide emotional behavior, a process we describe in terms of the generation of affective meaning, and which could explain the common role played by the vmPFC in a range of experimental paradigms.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.tics.2012.01.005

Cites

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Claims the paper makes

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  • Findingown data

    dACC and vmPFC are strongly dissociable in human studies based on activation and connectivity.

    “The dACC and vmPFC are strongly dissociable in human studies, based on both activation and connectivity with other brain regions.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingcitation

    vmPFC activation co-occurs with activation in a medial and temporal cortex network.

    “whereas vmPFC activations co-occur with activation in a network consisting of medial and temporal cortex [17].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [17] Raichle M A default mode of brain function Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A 2001 98 676 682 PMC14647 11209064 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Findingown data

    dACC activation typically co-occurs with activation in a lateral fronto-parietal network.

    “dACC activation typically co-occurs with activation in a lateral fronto-parietal network”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    rdACC is particularly strongly co-activated with subcortical affective structures including basolateral amygdala, nucleus accumbens, hypothalamus, periaqueductal gray, and dorsal raphe nucleus.

    “In addition, rdACC is particularly strongly co-activated with a number of subcortical ‘affective’ structures (Figure IB), including the basolateral amygdala, nucleus accumbens, hypothalamus, periaqueductal gray (PAG), and dorsal raphe nucleus.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingnone given

    rdACC is connected to both the lateral fronto-parietal and medial-temporal networks with about equal strength.

    “The rdACC is connected to both networks with about equal strength”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 47
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 6
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The pain map is largely distinct from the meaning-related maps and includes multiple parts of the ventromedial and cingulate cortices, including vmPFC, rostro-dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, dorsal anterior cingulate, insula, and somatosensory cortices.

    “The pain map is largely distinct from the others, and includes multiple parts of the ventromedial and cingulate cortices, including vmPFC, rostro-dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (rdACC), and the dorsal anterior cingulate (dACC), insula, and somatosensory cortices.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The Neurosynth meta-analytic maps accurately represent the brain networks associated with the psychological domains they are intended to capture.
    • The authors state this as an assumption: Pain does not always require the conceptual construction of meaning to induce affect.
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The self and social cognition/mentalizing maps are similar to one another and load equally on both factors, suggesting that these processes share features of both subsystems.

    “The self and social cognition/mentalizing maps were similar to one another and loaded equally on both factors, suggesting that these processes share features of both sub-systems.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The Neurosynth meta-analytic maps accurately represent the brain networks associated with the psychological domains they are intended to capture.
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    The second subsystem comprises the anterior and dorsal portion of the vmPFC and the posterior cingulate cortex, with memory and default-mode maps loading uniquely on this factor.

    “The second subsystem comprises the anterior and dorsal portion of the vmPFC and the PCC. This might be called the ‘simulation’ subsystem, as the memory and default-mode maps load uniquely on this factor, and as this system appears to be involved in constructing internal models of the world based on mnemonic information, and using them to imagine projected future scenarios [5].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [5] Buckner RL Carroll DC Self-projection and the brain Trends Cogn. Sci 2007 11 49 57 17188554 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • Rests on an assumption: The Neurosynth meta-analytic maps accurately represent the brain networks associated with the psychological domains they are intended to capture.
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    A factor analysis of the eight domain maps that included consistent vmPFC activity shows two distinct subsystems, which also overlap only in the vmPFC.

    “A factor analysis of the eight domain maps that included consistent vmPFC activity shows two distinct subsystems, which also overlap only in the vmPFC (Figure 2B).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The Neurosynth meta-analytic maps accurately represent the brain networks associated with the psychological domains they are intended to capture.
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Comparison of Neurosynth maps reveals striking overlap in the vmPFC across all meaning-related process domains (memory/default mode, self-reflection, social cognition/mentalizing, emotion, reward, and autonomic/endocrine changes), as well as functional specialization in different parts of the medial prefrontal cortex and associated regions.

    “This comparison reveals striking overlap in vmPFC across all of the ‘meaning-related’ process domains (Figure 2a), as well as functional specialization in different parts of the MPFC and associated regions.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The Neurosynth meta-analytic maps accurately represent the brain networks associated with the psychological domains they are intended to capture.
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The first subsystem encompasses the ventro-caudal vmPFC and subcortical structures associated with affect, valuation, and autonomic/endocrine control, with reward, autonomic, and emotion maps loading uniquely on this factor.

    “The first subsystem encompasses the ventro-caudal vmPFC and subcortical structures associated with affect, valuation, and autonomic/endocrine control. This system might be called the ‘affect generation’ system, as the reward, autonomic, and emotion maps load uniquely on this factor.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The Neurosynth meta-analytic maps accurately represent the brain networks associated with the psychological domains they are intended to capture.
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The vmPFC is not required for the learning or expression of anticipatory conditioned responses, including fear behavior.

    “The vmPFC is not required for the learning or expression of anticipatory conditioned responses (CRs), including ‘fear’ behavior [34].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [34] Quirk GJ The Role of Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex in the Recovery of Extinguished Fear J. Neurosci 2000 20 6225 6231 10934272 PMC6772571 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The anatomical connectivity of the vmPFC parallels the functional findings and reinforces the view of the vmPFC as an integrative center.

    “The anatomical connectivity of the vmPFC parallels these functional findings, and reinforces the view of vmPFC as an integrative center.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    None of the existing broad characterizations of vmPFC function accounts for the full range of processes involving the vmPFC, and many are difficult to reconcile with animal studies on vmPFC damage or inactivation.

    “Although each of these characterizations is extremely useful in providing a common explanation to a broad range of vmPFC-related phenomena, none of them seems to account for the range of processes that involve the vmPFC, and many of these broad views are difficult to reconcile with animal studies on the functional impairments with vmPFC damage or inactivation.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The vmPFC is not necessary for affective responses themselves, but is critical when affective responses are shaped by conceptual information about specific outcomes.

    “The vmPFC is not necessary for affective responses per se, but is critical when affective responses are shaped by conceptual information about specific outcomes.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    A meaning-centered view predicts that the vmPFC and its subcortical connections are not essential for simple forms of affect, valuation, and affective learning, but are essential when conceptual information drives affective physiological and behavioral responses.

    “Thus, a meaning-centered view of vmPFC predicts that vmPFC and its subcortical connections are not essential for simple forms of affect, valuation, and affective learning, but are essential when conceptual information drives affective physiological and behavioral responses.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Animal studies reveal a selective pattern of effects following vmPFC lesions, suggesting that the vmPFC is not necessary for basic forms of affective learning and valuation, but is necessary to optimally guide behavior when the meaning of events must be inferred from particular configurations of situational cues.

    “These studies suggest that vmPFC is not necessary for basic forms of affective learning and valuation, but is necessary to optimally guide behavior when the meaning of events has to be inferred from particular configurations of situational cues.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The vmPFC plays a unique role in representing conceptual information relevant for survival and in transducing concepts into affective behavioral and physiological responses.

    “As such, it plays a unique role in representing conceptual information relevant for survival and in transducing concepts into affective behavioral and physiological responses.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Without the vmPFC, value is still estimated and motivated behavior occurs, but value and emotion are more 'reflexive' and not situation-appropriate, as occurs with utilization behavior and other reports of orbital/ventromedial prefrontal damage.

    “One prediction that follows from this view is that without vmPFC, value is still estimated and motivated behavior occurs, but value and emotion are more ‘reflexive’ and not situation-appropriate, as occurs with ‘utilization behavior’ [32] and other reports of orbital/ventromedial prefrontal damage [33].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [32] Lhermite F “Utilization behaviour” and its relation to lesions of the frontal lobes Brain 1983 106 237 255 6850269 source

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    • cites [33] Beer J Orbitofrontal cortex and social behavior: integrating self-monitoring and emotion-cognition interactions J. Cogn. Neurosci 18 871 879 16839295 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The vmPFC is monosynaptically connected with cortical structures associated with sensory hedonics and expectancies for specific rewards (orbitofrontal cortex), mentalizing and theory of mind (dorsomedial prefrontal cortex), and goal formation and maintenance (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and frontopolar cortex).

    “It is also monosynaptically connected with cortical structures associated with sensory hedonics and expectancies for specific rewards [15] (OFC), mentalizing and theory of mind [9] (dmPFC), and goal formation and maintenance (dlPFC and frontopolar cortex).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [15] Schoenbaum G Does the orbitofrontal cortex signal value? Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci 1239 87 99 22145878 PMC3530400 source

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    • cites [9] Amodio DM Frith CD Meeting of minds: the medial frontal cortex and social cognition Nat. Rev. Neurosci 2006 7 268 277 16552413 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Converging effects in a number of related paradigms have led to the idea that the OFC-vmPFC system represents expectations about specific outcomes, which perhaps provides clues as to the roots of conceptual, prospective thought.

    “Converging effects in a number of related paradigms has led to the idea that the OFC-vmPFC system represents expectations about specific outcomes [15,20], which perhaps provides clues as to the roots of conceptual, prospective thought.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [15] Schoenbaum G Does the orbitofrontal cortex signal value? Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci 1239 87 99 22145878 PMC3530400 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [20] Balleine BW O'Doherty JP Human and Rodent Homologies in Action Control: Corticostriatal Determinants of Goal-Directed and Habitual Action Neuropsychopharmacology 2010 35 48 69 19776734 PMC3055420 source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Overtraining on extinction should eliminate the need for an intact vmPFC during retrieval.

    “One prediction that follows from this is that overtraining on extinction should eliminate the need for an intact vmPFC during retrieval.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Lateral OFC appears to be important for the assignment of value to specific cues, whereas vmPFC is more important for the action value of those items, whether behavioral, emotional, or visceromotor.

    “Lateral OFC appears to be important for the assignment of value to specific cues [15,44], whereas vmPFC is more important for the action value of those items [45], whether behavioral, 'emotional,' or visceromotor.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [15] Schoenbaum G Does the orbitofrontal cortex signal value? Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci 1239 87 99 22145878 PMC3530400 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [44] Walton ME Separable Learning Systems in the Macaque Brain and the Role of Orbitofrontal Cortex in Contingent Learning Neuron 2010 65 927 939 20346766 PMC3566584 source

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    • cites [45] Noonan MP Separate value comparison and learning mechanisms in macaque medial and lateral orbitofrontal cortex Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A 2010 107 20547 20552 21059901 PMC2996698 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Lesions of the MPFC-OFC system do not result in impairments in responding to cues that are predictive of food rewards, nor do they impair avoidance of a food that has been paired with illness or satiated.

    “Lesions of this system do not result in impairments in responding to cues that are predictive of food rewards, nor do they impair avoidance of a food that has been paired with illness or satiated.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [15] Schoenbaum G Does the orbitofrontal cortex signal value? Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci 1239 87 99 22145878 PMC3530400 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    vmPFC inactivation abolishes all these benefits of control without affecting the learning of escape responses per se.

    “vmPFC inactivation abolishes all these benefits of control without affecting the learning of escape responses per se.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [40] Amat J Medial prefrontal cortex determines how stressor controllability affects behavior and dorsal raphe nucleus Nat. Neurosci 2005 8 365 371 15696163 source

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    • cites [41] Baratta MV Role of the ventral medial prefrontal cortex in mediating behavioral control-induced reduction of later conditioned fear Learn Mem 2008 15 84 87 18235108 PMC12599004 source

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    • cites [42] Maier SF Watkins LR Role of the medial prefrontal cortex in coping and resilience Brain Res 2010 1355 52 60 20727864 PMC2967290 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The rostro-dorsal anterior cingulate cortex should be more active when there is greater demand for immediate motivated behavior or action monitoring, whereas the vmPFC should be more active when it is necessary to update representations of the situational context itself.

    “More specifically, rdACC should be more active when there is greater demand for immediate motivated behavior or action monitoring, whereas vmPFC should be more active when it is necessary to update representations of the situational context itself—though the action vs. context updating dichotomy is confounded with valence in the literature, leading to ambiguity on the functional dissociations”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Control over shock speeds subsequent escape learning, slows subsequent fear conditioning, reduces threat-related serotonin responses in the dorsal raphe to novel contexts, and buffers animals against later adverse effects of inescapable shock.

    “Control speeds subsequent escape learning [40] and slows subsequent fear conditioning [41], reduces threat-related serotonin responses in the dorsal raphe to novel contexts [40], and buffers the animals against later adverse effects of inescapable shock [42].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [40] Amat J Medial prefrontal cortex determines how stressor controllability affects behavior and dorsal raphe nucleus Nat. Neurosci 2005 8 365 371 15696163 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [41] Baratta MV Role of the ventral medial prefrontal cortex in mediating behavioral control-induced reduction of later conditioned fear Learn Mem 2008 15 84 87 18235108 PMC12599004 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [42] Maier SF Watkins LR Role of the medial prefrontal cortex in coping and resilience Brain Res 2010 1355 52 60 20727864 PMC2967290 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Instructions to conceptualize the CS+ in an emotionally positive manner increase vmPFC activity and decrease amygdala and skin conductance responses.

    “Conversely, instructions to conceptualize the CS+ in an emotionally positive manner (e.g., think of a blue square as a calming, peaceful ocean) increases vmPFC activity and decreases amygdala and skin conductance responses [52] (figure 1f).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [52] Delgado MR Neural Circuitry Underlying the Regulation of Conditioned Fear and Its Relation to Extinction Neuron 2008 59 829 838 18786365 PMC3061554 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The vmPFC is not necessary for representing the aversive value of shocks or learning to escape them, but is crucial for integrating information about the external environment and the efficacy of one's actions-or, more simply, conceiving of the meaning of the shocks in context.

    “Thus, vmPFC is not necessary for representing the aversive value of shocks or learning to escape them, but it is crucial for integrating information about the external environment and the efficacy of one’s actions—or, more simply, conceiving of the meaning of the shocks in context.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Following devaluation, the value of the action as represented by the model-free, incremental value-learning system remains high, but the value of the action represented by the model-based system has changed.

    “Following devaluation, the value of the action as represented by the model-free, incremental value-learning system remains high (the action was associated with tasty rewards), but the value of the action represented by the model-based system has changed.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In this study, vmPFC activity was associated with increased reappraisal success in a manner mediated by changes in the ventral striatum, though other dorsomedial and lateral prefrontal regions are likely to be important as well.

    “In this study, vmPFC activity was associated with increased reappraisal success in a manner mediated by changes in the ventral striatum, though other dorsomedial and lateral prefrontal regions are likely to be important as well [54,55].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [54] Wager TD Prefrontal-Subcortical Pathways Mediating Successful Emotion Regulation Neuron 2008 59 1037 1050 18817740 PMC2742320 source

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    • cites [55] Ochsner KN Reflecting upon feelings: an fMRI study of neural systems supporting the attribution of emotion to self and other J. Cogn. Neuro 2004 16 1 27 15701226 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Positive reappraisal reduces amygdala responses to aversive visual images and increases activity in the ventral striatum, which in turn predict reappraisal effects on emotional experience.

    “In one recent study, positive reappraisal reduced amygdala responses to aversive visual images and increases activity in the ventral striatum, which in turn predict reappraisal effects on emotional experience [54] (figure 1h).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [54] Wager TD Prefrontal-Subcortical Pathways Mediating Successful Emotion Regulation Neuron 2008 59 1037 1050 18817740 PMC2742320 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Human studies of fear extinction and reversal show vmPFC and hippocampal co-activation during the recall of extinction, suggesting parallel function in animals and humans and perhaps the involvement of explicit memory systems.

    “Findings in animals are paralleled by human studies of fear extinction and reversal, which show vmPFC and hippocampal co-activation during the recall of extinction [38], suggesting parallel function in animals and humans and perhaps the involvement of explicit memory systems.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [38] Milad MR Neurobiological Basis of Failure to Recall Extinction Memory in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Biol. Psychiatry 2009 66 1075 1082 19748076 PMC2787650 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    vmPFC lesions in humans and monkeys interfere with decision-making when the value of alternative outcomes is close together, or reverses rapidly, and the vmPFC is sensitive to the values of all available choices, not only the best ones.

    “Moreover, vmPFC lesions in humans and monkeys have been shown to interfere with decision-making when the value of alternative outcomes is close together [45,47], or reverses rapidly [48], and is sensitive to the values of all available choices, not only the best ones [45,49] (Figure 1n).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [45] Noonan MP Separate value comparison and learning mechanisms in macaque medial and lateral orbitofrontal cortex Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A 2010 107 20547 20552 21059901 PMC2996698 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [47] Tsuchida A Beyond Reversal: A Critical Role for Human Orbitofrontal Cortex in Flexible Learning from Probabilistic Feedback J. Neurosci 2010 30 16868 16875 21159958 PMC6634931 source

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    • cites [48] Fellows L Farah M Ventromedial frontal cortex mediates affective shifting in humans: evidence from a reversal learning paradigm Brain 2003 126 1830 1837 12821528 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In instructed fear, participants are informed through language that a cue will be followed by a strong shock, which is sufficient to produce a well-characterized pattern of increases in the amygdala and rostro-dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and decreases in the vmPFC.

    “For example, in instructed fear, participants are informed through language that a cue will be followed by a strong shock, which is sufficient to produce a well-characterized pattern of increases in the amygdala and rdACC and decreases in vmPFC (both of which may be part of the broad ‘meaning construction’ response; see Box 1) [50,51] (Figure 1g).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [50] Mechias M-L A meta-analysis of instructed fear studies: Implications for conscious appraisal of threat NeuroImage 2010 49 1760 1768 19786103 source

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    • cites [51] Phelps EA Extinction Learning in Humans: Role of the Amygdala and vmPFC Neuron 2004 43 897 905 15363399 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Some forms of placebo analgesia require the presence of endogenous opioids, and correlated increases in endogenous opioid activity are found in both the vmPFC and periaqueductal gray under placebo treatment.

    “Some forms of placebo analgesia require the presence of endogenous opioids, and correlated increases in endogenous opioid activity are found in both structures under placebo treatment [59] (Figure 1i).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [59] Wager TD Placebo effects on human µ-opioid activity during painin Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A 2007 104 11056 11061 PMC1894566 17578917 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Both effects tracked the individual time course of autonomic changes during the challenge, and the relationships between vmPFC and autonomic changes were mediated in part by activity in the periaqueductal gray.

    “Both effects tracked the individual time course of autonomic changes during the challenge, and the relationships between vmPFC and autonomic changes were mediated in part by activity in PAG.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [64] Wager TD Brain mediators of cardiovascular responses to social threat NeuroImage 2009 47 821 835 19465137 PMC3275821 source

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    • cites [65] Wager TD Brain mediators of cardiovascular responses to social threat, Part II: Prefrontal-subcortical pathways and relationship with anxiety NeuroImage 2009 47 836 851 19465135 PMC4169880 source

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationreasoning

    An emerging view is that activity in the vmPFC, particularly the ventral/medial orbitofrontal portion deactivated in stress studies, predicts value after the integration of diverse kinds of conceptual information.

    “An emerging view is that activity in vmPFC, particularly the ventral/medial orbitofrontal portion deactivated in stress studies, predicts value after the integration of diverse kinds of conceptual information.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In another recent study, vmPFC damage increased perceived threat and negative affect and altered endocrine responses to social evaluative threat.

    “In another recent study, vmPFC damage increased perceived threat and negative affect and altered endocrine responses to this type of challenge [66].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [66] Buchanan TW Medial prefrontal cortex damage affects physiological and psychological stress responses differently in men and women Psychoneuroendocrinology 2010 35 56 66 19783103 PMC2795091 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Greater vmPFC activity is elicited in comparisons between flavors labeled as 'rich and delicious' versus 'boiled vegetable water', wines labeled as expensive versus cheap, and skin creams presented as 'rich and moisturizing' versus 'basic'.

    “Greater vmPFC activity is elicited in comparisons between flavors labeled as “rich and delicious” vs. “boiled vegetable water” [69], wines labeled as expensive vs. cheap [70], and skin creams presented as “rich and moisturizing” vs. “basic” [71].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [69] Grabenhorst F How Cognition Modulates Affective Responses to Taste and Flavor: Top-down Influences on the Orbitofrontal and Pregenual Cingulate Cortices Cereb Cortex 2007 18 1549 1559 18056086 source

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    • cites [70] Plassmann H Marketing actions can modulate neural representations of experienced pleasantness Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A 2008 105 1050 1054 18195362 PMC2242704 source

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    • cites [71] McCabe C Cognitive influences on the affective representation of touch and the sight of touch in the human brain Soc. Cogn. Affect. Neurosci 2008 3 97 108 19015100 PMC2555465 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Studies of placebo analgesia show reliable increases in the vmPFC and reliable connections between the vmPFC and periaqueductal gray.

    “Studies of placebo analgesia show reliable increases in vmPFC [53] (Figure 1e) and reliable connections between vmPFC and PAG [58].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [53] Diekhof EK Fear is only as deep as the mind allows NeuroImage 2011 58 275 285 21669291 source

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    • cites [58] Meissner K The Placebo Effect: Advances from Different Methodological Approaches J. Neurosci 2011 31 16117 16124 22072664 PMC3242469 source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted).

    Interpretationcitation

    A second prediction is that reappraisal-related fMRI activity will emerge when controlling for activity in lateral cortical attention systems.

    “A second prediction is that reappraisal-related fMRI activity will emerge when controlling for activity in lateral cortical ‘attention systems’ (partially done in [54]; see Supplementary Online Materials for additional discussion).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [54] Wager TD Prefrontal-Subcortical Pathways Mediating Successful Emotion Regulation Neuron 2008 59 1037 1050 18817740 PMC2742320 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Altogether, these results clearly show that representations in the vmPFC are strongly influenced by various forms of conceptual information, and that the vmPFC mediates processes that extend beyond preferences, including physiological responses related to well being.

    “Altogether, these results clearly show that representations in the vmPFC are strongly influenced by various forms of conceptual information, and that vmPFC mediates processes that extend beyond preferences, including physiological responses related to well being.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Reappraisal paradigms require cognitive effort and external attention, which produces large de-activations in the vmPFC across many paradigms.

    “One difficulty with reappraisal paradigms is that they require cognitive effort and external attention [56,57], which produces large de-activations in vmPFC across many paradigms [17].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [56] Urry HL Individual differences in some (but not all) medial prefrontal regions reflect cognitive demand while regulating unpleasant emotion NeuroImage 2009 47 852 863 19486944 PMC2766667 source

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    • cites [57] van Reekum CM Gaze fixations predict brain activation during the voluntary regulation of picture-induced negative affect NeuroImage 2007 36 1041 1055 17493834 source

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    • cites [17] Raichle M A default mode of brain function Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A 2001 98 676 682 PMC14647 11209064 source

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationreasoning

    A prediction of the meaning-centered view is that reappraisal will be impaired with vmPFC lesions.

    “That notwithstanding, a prediction of the meaning-centered view is that reappraisal will be impaired with vmPFC lesions.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    rdACC and vmPFC have different functional profiles, paralleling the prelimbic/infralimbic distinction in rats.

    “RDACC and vmPFC have different functional profiles, paralleling a distinction between prelimbic (PL) and infralimbic (IL) cortices in rats (Figure Ic).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    vmPFC and rdACC are considered part of the same functional zone at the broadest level but are also clearly dissociable.

    “Though we consider vmPFC and rdACC to be part of the same functional zone at the broadest level, they are also clearly dissociable.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Cognitive-behavioral therapy and other meaning-centered therapies target pathological interpretations of self and world and are thought effective for these disorders.

    “Cognitive-behavioral therapy and other forms of meaning-centered therapy [83] target these pathological interpretations of the self and the world and break them down, and are thought to be effective for all these disorders.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [83] Ellis A Joffe Ellis D Rational emotive behavior therapy 2011 American Psychological Association

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Depression is characterized by biases toward negative information and rumination.

    “Depression, for example, is characterized by biases towards negative information and rumination [81]”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [81] McLaughlin KA Nolen-Hoeksema S Rumination as a transdiagnostic factor in depression and anxiety Behav. Res. Ther 2011 49 186 193 21238951 PMC3042543 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Meaning-guided affect represented in vmPFC is generative and can be easily transferred to new situations or configurations of informational elements.

    “we propose that meaning-guided affect as represented in vmPFC is a) generative and can be easily transferred to new situations or configurations of informational elements;”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Dysfunction of vmPFC is thought to be critical in anxiety disorders such as PTSD, depression, counterproductive motivation in drug addiction, and dysregulation of autonomic and endocrine systems related to chronic stress and pain.

    “Dysfunction of the vmPFC is thought to be critical in anxiety disorders such as PTSD [10] (Figure 1vw), depression [79] (figure 1x), counterproductive motivation in drug addiction [80], and dysregulation of autonomic and endocrine systems related to chronic stress [12] and pain [13].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [10] Etkin A Wager TD Functional neuroimaging of anxiety: a meta-analysis of emotional processing in PTSD, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobia Am. J. Psychiatry 2007 164 1476 1488 17898336 PMC3318959 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [79] Drevets W Subgenual prefrontal cortex abnormalities in mood disorders Nature 1997 386 824 827 9126739 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [80] Peters J Extinction circuits for fear and addiction overlap in prefrontal cortex Learn Mem 2009 16 279 288 19380710 PMC4527308 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Like vmPFC, rdACC is integral in shaping subcortical responses and may participate in constructing and/or deploying meaning.

    “This connectivity suggests that, like vmPFC, rdACC is integral in shaping subcortical responses and may participate in the construction and/or deployment of ‘meaning.’”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Recent evidence links PL and rdACC to appetitive drug-seeking behavior, which argues in favor of a process account of the rdACC/vmPFC distinction.

    “Recent evidence linking PL and rdACC to appetitive, drug seeking behavior [80] argues in favor of a process account.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [80] Peters J Extinction circuits for fear and addiction overlap in prefrontal cortex Learn Mem 2009 16 279 288 19380710 PMC4527308 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Human findings show rdACC and vmPFC preference for negative and positive emotion, respectively.

    “similar findings in humans showing that the rdACC and vmPFC show a preference for negative and positive emotion, respectively [88] (Figure Ie)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [88] Lindquist K The brain basis of emotion: a meta-analytic review Behav. Brain Sci (in press) PMC4329228 22617651

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    PL stimulation impairs fear extinction, and PL activity after extinction predicts reduced extinction recall, whereas IL activity has opposite effects.

    “For example, PL stimulation impairs fear extinction, and PL activity after extinction predicts reduced extinction recall [87], whereas IL activity has the opposite effects [87].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [87] Sotres-Bayon F Quirk GJ Prefrontal control of fear: more than just extinction Curr. Opin. Neurobiol 2010 20 231 235 20303254 PMC2878722 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    One view holds that rdACC translates between meaning and action systems, including selecting meaning-guided actions under uncertainty and monitoring action consequences, whereas ventral vmPFC updates representations of the organism's internal state.

    “One view is that rdACC is involved in translating between ‘meaning’ and action systems—including selecting meaning-guided actions under conditions of uncertainty [23,24] and monitoring the consequences of actions [25]—whereas ventral vmPFC are primarily involved in updating representations of the internal state of the organism.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [23] Shackman AJ The integration of negative affect, pain and cognitive control in the cingulate cortex Nat. Rev. Neurosci 2011 12 154 167 21331082 PMC3044650 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [24] Van Snellenberg J Wager TD Christensen AL Bougakov D Goldberg E Cognitive and motivational functions of the human prefrontal cortex Luria's Legacy in the 21st century 2009 Oxford University Press 30 61

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [25] Rushworth MFS Frontal Cortex and Reward-Guided Learning and Decision-Making Neuron 2011 70 1054 1069 21689594 source

      Not checked in the free run.

51 of 51
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The Neurosynth meta-analytic maps accurately represent the brain networks associated with the psychological domains they are intended to capture.

    “We used neurosynth to obtain maps of brain networks specifically associated with functional tasks related to the ingredients of affective meaning.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Pain does not always require the conceptual construction of meaning to induce affect.

    “We also compared these maps with a map of experimental pain, which is affective but not conceptually driven per se (that is, pain does not always require the conceptual construction of meaning to induce affect).”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Meaning is a class of processes rather than a single unitary process.

    “However, “meaning” is likely to reflect a class of processes rather than a unitary process.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The effects of vmPFC activation on subcortical circuits are predominantly inhibitory.

    “The effects of vmPFC activations on subcortical circuits appear to be predominantly inhibitory.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    vmPFC activity is inversely correlated with rdACC activity across a variety of emotional and decision-making tasks.

    “Activity in the vmPFC is inversely correlated with activity in rdACC across a variety of emotional and decision-making tasks.”
5 of 5

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • Neuroimaging findings revealing relations between brain activity and ANS responses during emotion are often interpreted in terms of the brain causing autonomic responses, although the direction of causation here is suggestive due to correlational designs.

    “Neuroimaging findings revealing relations between brain activity and ANS responses during emotion are often interpreted in terms of the brain causing autonomic responsesalthough the direction of causation here is suggestive due to correlational designs (Macefield et al., 2013;Roy et al., 2012;Thayer et al., 2012).”

    From Physiological feelings (2019) · cites this paper as Roy et al., 2012

    Split into 2 atoms — 1 confirmed, 1 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 0 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The dlPFC and parietal cortex have reciprocal projections with the dACC.

    “The dlPFC and parietal cortex have reciprocal projections with the dACC”

    From When Is an Adolescent an Adult? Assessing Cognitive Control in Emotional and Nonemotional Contexts (2016) · cites this paper as Roy, Shohamy, & Wager, 2012

    In ‘Subdivisions of ventromedial prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortex’ (page unavailable), the paper says dACC activation typically co-occurs with activation in a lateral fronto-parietal network. That supports an association with the regions named in the claim, but it does not establish reciprocal anatomical projections between them and the dACC. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The ventromedial prefrontal cortex contributes to both accessing schematic knowledge used in episodic simulations and signaling their affective value.

    “These studies suggest that the vmPFC contributes to both accessing schematic knowledge used in episodic simulations as well signaling their affective value (see Box 2).”

    From Episodic Future Thinking: Mechanisms and Functions (2017) · cites this paper as [98]

  • The vmPFC has been implicated in memory and in the representation of value and affect.

    “The vmPFC has been implicated in various different functions, including memory but also the representation of value and affect (98).”

    From Episodic Future Thinking: Mechanisms and Functions (2017) · cites this paper as [98]

  • The top-down view remains strong in cognitive neuroscience where the expression and regulation of emotion is putatively grounded in the frontal lobe regulation of subcortical emotion regions, including autonomic source nuclei.

    “The top-down view nevertheless remains strong in cognitive neuroscience where the expression and regulation of emotion is putatively grounded in the frontal lobe regulation of subcortical emotion regions, including autonomic source nuclei (Roy et al., 2012;Wager et al., 2009).”

    From Physiological feelings (2019) · cites this paper as Roy et al., 2012

Cites

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Roy, M., Shohamy, D., & Wager, T. D.
Affiliations
University of Colorado Boulder (US)
Corresponding author
Wager, Tor D.
Venue
Trends in Cognitive Sciences
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2012-03
Volume
16
Issue
3
Pages
147-156
ISSN
1364-6613 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2153599086
Cited by
856
References
104
Citations by year
2026: 41 · 2025: 48 · 2024: 44 · 2023: 40 · 2022: 48 · 2021: 70 · 2020: 58 · 2019: 81 · 2018: 54 · 2017: 69 · 2016: 78 · 2015: 86 · 2014: 65 · 2013: 55 · 2012: 19
FWCI
5.69
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Trends in Cognitive Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH076136, R21MH082308)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (RC1DA028608, R01DA027794)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
Keywords
ventromedial prefrontal cortex, affective meaning, emotional behavior, conceptual information, self-representation, long-term memory, emotional responses
MeSH terms
Affect, Brain Mapping, Emotions, Humans, Neural Pathways, Prefrontal Cortex, Memory, Long-Term

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-05.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-05.

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