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Action sets and decisions in the medial frontal cortex
M F S Rushworth1, M E Walton, S W Kennerley
1Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3UD, UK. matthew.rushworth@psy.ox.ac.uk
Trends in Cognitive Sciences
|September 8, 2004
Summary
The dorsomedial frontal and cingulate cortices are key to decision-making. The medial superior frontal gyrus (SFG) aids action selection, while the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) evaluates action outcomes and guides choices.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Dorsomedial frontal and cingulate cortices show frequent activation in neuroimaging studies of decision making and action selection.
- Previous interpretations focused on executive control, movement sequencing, error detection, and conflict monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and integrate recent experimental findings (lesions, inactivation, cell recording) with neuroimaging data.
- To clarify the functional roles of the medial superior frontal gyrus (SFG) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC).
Main Methods:
- Review of existing neuroimaging studies.
- Integration of data from experimental approaches including lesions, inactivation, and cell recording.
Main Results:
- A region of the medial superior frontal gyrus (SFG), including the pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA), is involved in action set selection.
- The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) plays a crucial role in linking actions to their consequences, encompassing both positive reinforcement and errors.
- The ACC guides decisions regarding the value or worth of specific actions.
Conclusions:
- The functions of the dorsomedial frontal and cingulate cortices extend beyond executive control and conflict monitoring.
- The SFG (pre-SMA) is critical for selecting appropriate action sets.
- The ACC is fundamental for evaluating action outcomes and informing future decisions.