title: Ventromedial frontal cortex mediates affective shifting in humans: evidence from a reversal learning paradigm.
abstract: How do the frontal lobes support behavioural flexibility? One key element is the ability to adjust responses when the reinforcement value of stimuli change. In monkeys, this ability--a form of affective shifting known as reversal learning--depends on orbitofrontal cortex. The present study examines the anatomical bases of reversal learning in humans. Subjects with lesions of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex were compared with a group with dorsolateral frontal lobe damage, as well as with normal controls on a simple reversal learning task. Neither form of frontal damage affected initial stimulus-reinforcement learning; ventromedial frontal damage selectively impaired reversal learning.
authors.affiliation: Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, 3815 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6196, USA. lesleyf@psych.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Lesley K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Fellows
authors.forename: Martha J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Farah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012193:Reversal Learning