Neural representation of degree of preference in the medial  prefrontal cortex.
Using near-infrared spectroscopy as an imaging technology to study the neural correlates of preference, we found significant signal changes over areas of the medial prefrontal cortex in response to a preference evaluation task compared with baseline. We further identified two subregions within the medial prefrontal cortex that responded differentially to varying levels of preference. The observed activation patterns suggest possible valence-arousal dissociation among varying degrees of preference within the medial prefrontal cortex, reminiscent of the characterization of emotions along the axes of valence and arousal.
Luu
Sheena
S
Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Chau
Tom
T
D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000502:physiology; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared; D055815:Young Adult