Functional Characteristics of The Cingulate Cortex of The Brain

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is part of the brain's limbic system. This article discusses how the ACC is involved in a circuit related to attention, which serves to regulate both cognitive and emotional processing. Neuroimaging studies showing that specific regions of the ACC are engaged in cognition and emotions are reviewed and linked to findings indicating that error negativity is dependent on affect and motivation. Additionally, the development of the emotional and cognitive roles of the ACC is discussed, along with how the success of this regulation in controlling responses may correlate with the size of the cingulate gyrus. Finally, some theories on how different subdivisions of the ACC may interact with other cortical structures as part of the circuits involved in regulating mental and emotional activity are considered.