Differential engagement of anterior cingulate cortex subdivisions for cognitive and emotional function.
Functional differentiation of dorsal (dACC) and rostral (rACC) anterior cingulate cortex for cognitive and emotional function has received considerable indirect support. Using fMRI, parallel tasks, and within-subject analysis, the present study directly tested the proposed specialization of ACC subdivisions. A Task x Region interaction confirmed more dACC activation during color-word distractors and more rACC activation during emotion-word distractors. Activity in ACC subdivisions differentially predicted behavioral performance. Connectivity with prefrontal and limbic regions also supported distinct dACC and rACC roles. Findings provide direct evidence for differential engagement of ACC subdivisions in cognitive and emotional processing and for differential functional connectivity in the implementation of cognitive control and emotion regulation. Results point to an anatomical and functional continuum rather than segregated operations.
Mohanty
Aprajita
A
Institute for Neuroscience and Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA.
Engels
Anna S
AS
Herrington
John D
JD
Heller
Wendy
W
Ho
Moon-Ho Ringo
MH
Banich
Marie T
MT
Webb
Andrew G
AG
Warren
Stacie L
SL
Miller
Gregory A
GA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000502:physiology; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology; D011932:Reading; D012660:Semantics