Ventromedial prefrontal cortex supports affective future simulation by integrating distributed knowledge Journal Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Significance; Decisions concerning the future are often informed by past experiences. However, in a complex world, we frequently have to make choices for prospective scenarios that we haven’t yet encountered. The present study demonstrates a critical role for the ventromedial prefrontal cortex in simulating what it may feel like to experience such future events. We show that this region contributes to integrating knowledge related to the elements that constitute the episode (e.g., the episode’s location and protagonists). Its activation then indicates the episode’s emergent or overall anticipated affective quality. By this process, the ventromedial prefrontal cortex fundamentally supports our ability to predict possible future affective states, a mechanism that can be flexibly used to augment future oriented decisions.

publication date

  • November 18, 2014

Date in CU Experts

  • July 30, 2024 6:57 AM

Full Author List

  • Benoit RG; Szpunar KK; Schacter DL

author count

  • 3

Other Profiles

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0027-8424

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1091-6490

Additional Document Info

start page

  • 16550

end page

  • 16555

volume

  • 111

issue

  • 46