Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Our cognitive abilities in performing tasks are influenced by experienced competition/conflict between behavioral choices. To determine the role of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in the conflict detection-resolution process, we conducted complementary lesion and single-cell recording studies in monkeys that were resolving a conflict between two rules. We observed conflict-induced behavioral adjustment that persisted after lesions within the ACC but disappeared after lesions within the DLPFC. In the DLPFC, activity was modulated in some cells by the current conflict level and in other cells by the conflict experienced in the previous trial. These results show that the DLPFC, but not the ACC, is essential for the conflict-induced behavioral adjustment and suggest that encoding and maintenance of information about experienced conflict is mediated by the DLPFC.

Original publication

DOI

10.1126/science.1146384

Type

Journal article

Journal

Science

Publication Date

09/11/2007

Volume

318

Pages

987 - 990

Keywords

Analysis of Variance, Animals, Behavior, Animal, Brain Mapping, Conflict, Psychological, Electrophysiology, Gyrus Cinguli, Macaca, Macaca mulatta, Memory, Neurons, Neuropsychological Tests, Prefrontal Cortex, Psychomotor Performance, Reaction Time