Orbitofrontal cortex: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 17:43, 18 February 2025

Part of the prefrontal cortex involved in decision-making and emotion regulation

The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is a region of the prefrontal cortex located in the frontal lobes of the brain. It is situated above the orbits of the eyes, hence its name. The OFC is involved in the cognitive processing of decision-making, emotion regulation, and reward-related behaviors.

Anatomy[edit]

The orbitofrontal cortex is located in the ventral region of the frontal lobes, specifically in the Brodmann areas 10, 11, and 47. It is closely connected to the limbic system, including the amygdala and the hippocampus, which are involved in emotion and memory, respectively.

Functions[edit]

The orbitofrontal cortex plays a crucial role in:

Decision-making: The OFC is involved in evaluating choices and predicting outcomes, which is essential for making informed decisions.
Emotion regulation: It helps modulate emotional responses and is involved in the processing of reward and punishment.
Social behavior: The OFC contributes to social interactions by processing social cues and regulating appropriate social behavior.
Olfaction: The OFC is also involved in the processing of olfactory information, linking smells to emotions and memories.

Clinical Significance[edit]

Damage to the orbitofrontal cortex can result in a variety of behavioral and emotional changes, including:

Impulsivity: Individuals may exhibit poor impulse control and engage in risky behaviors.
Emotional dysregulation: There may be inappropriate emotional responses or difficulty in regulating emotions.
Social inappropriateness: Damage can lead to socially inappropriate behavior and difficulty in understanding social norms.

Research and Studies[edit]

Research on the orbitofrontal cortex has expanded our understanding of its role in various psychiatric and neurological disorders, such as:

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): Abnormalities in the OFC have been linked to the compulsive behaviors seen in OCD.
Depression: Dysfunction in the OFC may contribute to the emotional symptoms of depression.
Addiction: The OFC is involved in the reward system, and its dysfunction can contribute to addictive behaviors.

Related Pages[edit]

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-'''Orbitofrontal cortex'''
+{{Short description|Part of the prefrontal cortex involved in decision-making and emotion regulation}}
-The '''Orbitofrontal cortex''' (OFC) is a prefrontal cortex region in the frontal lobes in the brain which is involved in the cognitive processing of decision-making. The OFC is considered anatomically synonymous with the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Therefore, the region is distinguished due to the distinct neural connections and the distinct functions it performs. It is defined as the part of the prefrontal cortex that receives projections from the magnocellular, medial nucleus of the mediodorsal thalamus, and is thought to represent emotion in decision making.
+The '''orbitofrontal cortex''' (OFC) is a region of the [[prefrontal cortex]] located in the frontal lobes of the [[brain]]. It is situated above the orbits of the eyes, hence its name. The OFC is involved in the cognitive processing of decision-making, emotion regulation, and reward-related behaviors.
-==Etymology==
+==Anatomy==
-The term "orbitofrontal cortex" derives from its position immediately above the orbits in which the eyes are located. "Orbito-" is a prefix from Latin "orbita" meaning "course, track" and "-frontal" is derived from Latin "frons" (forehead).
+The orbitofrontal cortex is located in the ventral region of the frontal lobes, specifically in the [[Brodmann areas]] 10, 11, and 47. It is closely connected to the [[limbic system]], including the [[amygdala]] and the [[hippocampus]], which are involved in emotion and memory, respectively.
+[[File:Orbitofrontal_cortex.png|thumb|right|Diagram of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) in the human brain.]]
+==Functions==
+The orbitofrontal cortex plays a crucial role in:
-==Anatomy==
+* '''Decision-making''': The OFC is involved in evaluating choices and predicting outcomes, which is essential for making informed decisions.
-The OFC is divided into the medial and lateral OFC. The medial part is associated with monitoring the value of rewards and the lateral part is associated with evaluating punishments. The OFC contains the secondary olfactory cortex, which receives information about odours from the primary olfactory cortex.
+* '''Emotion regulation''': It helps modulate emotional responses and is involved in the processing of reward and punishment.
+* '''Social behavior''': The OFC contributes to social interactions by processing social cues and regulating appropriate social behavior.
+* '''Olfaction''': The OFC is also involved in the processing of olfactory information, linking smells to emotions and memories.
-==Function==
+==Clinical Significance==
-The orbitofrontal cortex plays a key role in decision making and expectation. It is involved in sensory integration, in representing the affective value of reinforcers, and in decision-making and expectation. The OFC is also involved in social and emotional processing, and lesions in this area can lead to deficits in interpreting and responding to social and emotional cues.
+Damage to the orbitofrontal cortex can result in a variety of behavioral and emotional changes, including:
-==Clinical significance==
+* '''Impulsivity''': Individuals may exhibit poor impulse control and engage in risky behaviors.
-Damage to the OFC can lead to a variety of disorders and abnormalities in cognitive function. These include impulsivity, compulsivity, mood disorders, and drug addiction. Patients with damage to the OFC can also exhibit personality changes and difficulty in making and following through with plans.
+* '''Emotional dysregulation''': There may be inappropriate emotional responses or difficulty in regulating emotions.
+* '''Social inappropriateness''': Damage can lead to socially inappropriate behavior and difficulty in understanding social norms.
-==See also==
+==Research and Studies==
-* [[Prefrontal cortex]]
+Research on the orbitofrontal cortex has expanded our understanding of its role in various psychiatric and neurological disorders, such as:
-* [[Cognitive neuroscience]]
-* [[Neuroanatomy]]
-==References==
+* '''[[Obsessive-compulsive disorder]] (OCD)''': Abnormalities in the OFC have been linked to the compulsive behaviors seen in OCD.
-<references />
+* '''[[Depression]]''': Dysfunction in the OFC may contribute to the emotional symptoms of depression.
+* '''[[Addiction]]''': The OFC is involved in the reward system, and its dysfunction can contribute to addictive behaviors.
-{{stub}}
+==Related Pages==
+* [[Prefrontal cortex]]
+* [[Limbic system]]
+* [[Amygdala]]
+* [[Hippocampus]]
+* [[Decision-making]]
+* [[Emotion regulation]]
 [[Category:Neuroanatomy]]
-[[Category:Cognitive neuroscience]]
 [[Category:Frontal lobe]]
+[[Category:Neuroscience]]