Involvement of medial prefrontal cortex in emotion during feedback presentation

It has been suggested that the posterior medial prefrontal cortex (pMPFC) implements cognitive functions involved during negative feedback processing. It has also been suggested that the presentation of the feedback elicits emotional processes. This functional MRI study examined whether pMPFC was associated with the emotional component in feedback processing. Participants were exposed to feedback while performing a version of a motion prediction task. The pMPFC was activated during negative feedback presentation and emotion-related activity was extracted from the pMPFC activation through parametric imaging analysis. It was found that the emotional pMPFC activity was greater in participants who scored higher on depressive mood scales. The results suggest that pMPFC also implements feedback-related emotional functions, which individually vary depending on depressive moods.