[The role of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex in the response to negative emotional events].
BACKGROUND
This review presents data showing the key role of ventromedial prefrontal cortex (here defined as an extensive area that includes ventral and medial prefrontal cortices) in the neural circuitry in charge of responding to negative events (i.e., dangerous, painful or disgusting).


METHODS
Ventromedial prefrontal cortex has rapid access to visual information and, in consequence, is able to react to negative visual events at approximately 100-150 ms from the stimulus onset. Its response to this type of stimulation, even when it is unconsciously perceived, is more intense than to non-negative stimuli. The main connections of this prefrontal area with sensorial structures (both up, in order to get incoming sensory information, and down, modulating the activity of these areas), with regions in charge of cognitive processes relevant to take a decision on how to cope with the negative stimulus (e.g., memory, action planning), and with areas in charge of autonomic and motor execution, are described.


CONCLUSIONS
An integrative schema of the role of ventromedial prefrontal cortex in the response to negative events is provided.
Carretié
Luis
L
UAM. Universidad Autonoma de Madrid. Facultad de Psicologia, 28049 Madrid, Espana. arretie@uam.es
López-Martin
Sara
S
Albert
Jacobo
J
D000818:Animals; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003657:Decision Making; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D011340:Problem Solving; D011930:Reaction Time; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology