Glossary / Lexicon

Cingulum refers to a major intracerebral fiber.

In psychology, the cingulum (also known as the cingulate gyrus or cingulate cortex) is a part of the brain that is involved in various cognitive processes, including attention, emotion regulation, decision-making, and social behavior.

Here are some examples of how the cingulum may be involved in these processes:

1. Attention: The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is a region of the cingulum that is involved in attentional control. Studies have shown that the ACC plays a key role in detecting errors and conflict, and adjusting behavior accordingly.

2. Emotion regulation: The cingulum is also involved in emotion regulation, particularly the regulation of negative emotions such as fear and anxiety. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), two regions of the cingulum, have been implicated in the regulation of emotional responses.

3. Decision-making: The cingulum has also been implicated in decision-making processes, particularly in situations where there is a potential for reward or punishment. The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) has been shown to play a role in value-based decision-making, while the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) is involved in monitoring the outcome of decisions.

4. Social behavior: The cingulum has also been shown to play a role in social behavior, particularly in empathy and perspective-taking. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) has been implicated in social cognition processes, such as understanding the mental states of others and processing emotional expressions.

Overall, the cingulum is a complex and multifaceted structure that is involved in a wide range of cognitive processes. Dysfunction of the cingulum has been implicated in various psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia.