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Updated: May 13, 2026

Investigating the Function of Deep Cortical and Subcortical Structures Using Stereotactic Electroencephalography: Lessons from the Anterior Cingulate Cortex
09:00

Investigating the Function of Deep Cortical and Subcortical Structures Using Stereotactic Electroencephalography: Lessons from the Anterior Cingulate Cortex

Published on: April 15, 2015

Action initiation in the human dorsal anterior cingulate cortex

Lakshminarayan Srinivasan1, Wael F Asaad, Daniel T Ginat

  • 1Neural Signal Processing Laboratory, Department of Radiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America. ls2@nsplab.org

Plos One
|March 6, 2013
PubMed

Insights

The dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) influences action initiation timing. Ablation increased premature movements, suggesting its role in controlling action onset separately from decision-making.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Neuropsychology

Background:

  • The dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) is linked to action initiation processes.
  • Direct human evidence connecting dACC to the precise timing of action onset is limited.
  • Understanding dACC's role in action initiation is crucial for explaining motor control deficits.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the immediate effects of dACC ablation on action initiation in humans.
  • To determine if dACC influences the temporal onset of actions independently of action selection.

Main Methods:

  • Studied reactive behavior in patients undergoing therapeutic bilateral cingulotomy.
  • Utilized a simple reaction task requiring joystick movement in response to visual cues.
  • Assessed action initiation in a decision-making task to evaluate persistent effects.

Main Results:

  • Following dACC ablation, patients exhibited a significant increase in false starts (premature movements).
  • This effect on action initiation persisted even when action selection capabilities remained intact.
  • Findings demonstrate an immediate impact of dACC ablation on controlling the timing of actions.

Conclusions:

  • The human dACC plays a critical role in regulating the temporal initiation of actions.
  • dACC's influence on action initiation is distinct from its involvement in action selection.
  • These findings provide direct evidence for dACC's function in preventing premature motor output.

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