Synthesis: the Roles of the Orbitofrontal Cortex

Abstract

A synthesis is provided of how the functions of the orbitofrontal cortex fit into the organization of the primate including human brain, in terms of its roles as the key brain area involved in processing rewards and punishers, and in learning about them. These roles make it the crucial brain system for emotion. Possible future directions in the development of our understanding of the orbitofrontal cortex in health and disease, including depression, are highlighted.