vmPFC

The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) is a region of the frontal lobe situated on the medial and ventral surfaces of the prefrontal cortex, encompassing portions of the orbitofrontal cortex. In many brain maps it lies along the medial wall and under the orbital gyri, extending from the anterior cingulate region toward the frontopolar areas. It receives robust inputs from limbic structures such as the amygdala, hippocampus, and nucleus accumbens, and sends outputs to autonomic and limbic centers in the hypothalamus and brainstem, facilitating integration of emotion with motivation and behavior.

Functions of the vmPFC include evaluating subjective value and guiding decision-making, particularly in reward-based and risk-sensitive contexts. It integrates affective signals to influence choices, regulates emotional responses, and contributes to social and moral judgments. The region is implicated in extinction of fear, emotion regulation, and updating value estimates based on changing outcomes.

Anatomically, the vmPFC overlaps with the orbitofrontal cortex and medial prefrontal cortex; precise boundaries vary across anatomical atlases. Some definitions emphasize the ventromedial subregion as part of the orbitofrontal cortex, while others include medial portions of the frontal pole.

Clinical relevance: dysfunction or damage to the vmPFC can disrupt decision-making, emotion regulation, and social behavior, sometimes producing disinhibition or personality changes. Functional alterations have been reported in mood disorders, addiction, PTSD, and anxiety disorders.

Research approaches include functional and structural neuroimaging in humans, animal studies with lesions or inactivation, and computational models of value-based decision making.