Brain
Cingulate Cortex
Error detection and emotional control
Overview
The cingulate cortex wraps around the corpus callosum and forms a key node of the limbic system. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) monitors for errors, detects conflict between competing responses, and regulates attention and emotion. The posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) is a hub of the default mode network, active during self-referential thought.
Function
- Error monitoring and conflict detection (ACC)
- Emotional regulation and empathy
- Attention and cognitive control
- Pain perception (affective component)
- Default mode network activity (PCC)
Key Facts
- ACC activity spikes when you make an error—even before you know it
- The ACC is active during social rejection, much like physical pain
- Overactive ACC is linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder
- The cingulate cortex is one of the oldest cortical regions evolutionarily