Self-control - Self-control Research - Brain Regions Involved in Self-control - Dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex

Dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex

Cameron S. Carter and Vincent van Veen theorize that the dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC) and the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC) play an important role in goal directed behavior. They appeal to evidence from event-related potential studies and fMRI studies to argue that the ACC and the DLPFC form a “conflict-control loop”. The ACC detects conflicting representations and the DLPFC resolves conflicts by shifting attention away from goal-irrelevant stimuli and toward goal-relevant stimuli.