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Ventromedial prefrontal cortex encodes emotional value.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Winecoff, A; Clithero, JA; Carter, RM; Bergman, SR; Wang, L; Huettel, SA
Published in: J Neurosci
July 3, 2013

The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) plays a critical role in processing appetitive stimuli. Recent investigations have shown that reward value signals in the vmPFC can be altered by emotion regulation processes; however, to what extent the processing of positive emotion relies on neural regions implicated in reward processing is unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of emotion regulation on the valuation of emotionally evocative images. Two independent experimental samples of human participants performed a cognitive reappraisal task while undergoing fMRI. The experience of positive emotions activated the vmPFC, whereas the regulation of positive emotions led to relative decreases in vmPFC activation. During the experience of positive emotions, vmPFC activation tracked participants' own subjective ratings of the valence of stimuli. Furthermore, vmPFC activation also tracked normative valence ratings of the stimuli when participants were asked to experience their emotions, but not when asked to regulate them. A separate analysis of the predictive power of vmPFC on behavior indicated that even after accounting for normative stimulus ratings and condition, increased signal in the vmPFC was associated with more positive valence ratings. These results suggest that the vmPFC encodes a domain-general value signal that tracks the value of not only external rewards, but also emotional stimuli.

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Published In

J Neurosci

DOI

EISSN

1529-2401

Publication Date

July 3, 2013

Volume

33

Issue

27

Start / End Page

11032 / 11039

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Psychomotor Performance
  • Prefrontal Cortex
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Humans
  • Female
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Winecoff, A., Clithero, J. A., Carter, R. M., Bergman, S. R., Wang, L., & Huettel, S. A. (2013). Ventromedial prefrontal cortex encodes emotional value. J Neurosci, 33(27), 11032–11039. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4317-12.2013
Winecoff, Amy, John A. Clithero, R McKell Carter, Sara R. Bergman, Lihong Wang, and Scott A. Huettel. “Ventromedial prefrontal cortex encodes emotional value.J Neurosci 33, no. 27 (July 3, 2013): 11032–39. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4317-12.2013.
Winecoff A, Clithero JA, Carter RM, Bergman SR, Wang L, Huettel SA. Ventromedial prefrontal cortex encodes emotional value. J Neurosci. 2013 Jul 3;33(27):11032–9.
Winecoff, Amy, et al. “Ventromedial prefrontal cortex encodes emotional value.J Neurosci, vol. 33, no. 27, July 2013, pp. 11032–39. Pubmed, doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4317-12.2013.
Winecoff A, Clithero JA, Carter RM, Bergman SR, Wang L, Huettel SA. Ventromedial prefrontal cortex encodes emotional value. J Neurosci. 2013 Jul 3;33(27):11032–11039.

Published In

J Neurosci

DOI

EISSN

1529-2401

Publication Date

July 3, 2013

Volume

33

Issue

27

Start / End Page

11032 / 11039

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Psychomotor Performance
  • Prefrontal Cortex
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Humans
  • Female