What is the ventromedial prefrontal bark?

also referred to as orbitofrontal bark, the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPC) is part of the front brain that is particularly involved in decision -making and personality. The ventromedial prefrontal cortex, located in the foremost part of the frontal lobes, was dubbed by the "moral brain center" and its function is not fully understood. Research shows that this area of ​​the brain plays a role in psychopathy, characterized by a serious absence of empathy, emotion and complete lack of the ability to be sorry.

The excellent example showing the importance of the ventromedial function of the prefrontal cortex is in the case of Phineas Gage, a railway leader that maintained the rod prolonged explosion through its brain and survived. While Mr. Gage experienced Trauma with consciously preserved, his doctor began to observe a remarkable personality change after fighting a life -threatening infection. Once considered, a decent man, Gage showed a significant decline in knowledge and intellectual abilities, could not plan, began, beganShouting obscenity without restrictions and could no longer do his job. Friends and acquaintances watched that anything clearly Phineas Gage was gone.

Important for planning, emotional control and formation of judgments, VMPC receives input from the limbic system, network of structures responsible for generating emotions and memories. The overall ripening of the prefrontal cortex occurs after all brain development, while VMPC is the absolute last part of the brain to complete. Limbic systemic structures ripen until completion before the ventromedial prefrontal bark, explain why adolescents often engage in risking, seem disorganized and take quick, random decisions. Children who have been neglected or abused with problems with the control of emotions or digestive delay in this area.

Research experiments comparing patients with VMPC damage with people diagnosed as psychopathicshow significant similarities. It leads to behavior that is considered morally deviant or suppressed, especially remarkable are their boring emotional reactions and a tendency to impulsiveness, which shows problems with self -control. While psychopaths have the ability to distinguish between morally correct and incorrect behavior, they don't care much about them. Most of them tend to have a reduced answer when fear, anger or pressure expresses others, as they reveal imaging studies, showing a reduced effect in VMPC and amygdale, the structure of the limbic system responsible for generating these emotions.