Glossary / Lexicon

Orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) refers to ab area in the frontal lobe, near the eyes, that receives signals originating in the olfactory receptors. Orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is also known as the Secondary olfactory cortex.

The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is a region of the prefrontal cortex that is located in the frontal lobes of the brain, just above the eyes. The OFC plays a critical role in a wide range of cognitive, emotional, and social functions, and has been extensively studied in the field of psychology.

Examples of the functions of the orbitofrontal cortex in psychology include:

1. Decision-making: The OFC is involved in the evaluation and comparison of different options in decision-making tasks. Damage to this area has been associated with impulsive decision-making and poor judgment.

2. Emotion regulation: The OFC is involved in the regulation of emotional responses, especially in response to stimuli that are ambiguous or conflicting. Dysfunction in this area has been implicated in a number of mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety.

3. Social behavior: The OFC is involved in the perception of social cues and the regulation of social behavior, including empathy, moral decision-making, and social conformity.

4. Reward processing: The OFC is involved in the evaluation of reward and punishment outcomes, and has been linked to addictive behaviors and risk-taking.

5. Memory: The OFC is involved in the formation and retrieval of long-term memories, especially those related to emotional or rewarding experiences.

Research on the OFC has advanced our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying a wide range of psychological processes, from decision-making and social behavior to emotion regulation and memory. Dysfunction in the OFC has been implicated in a number of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including addiction, depression, and personality disorders. Therefore, the study of the OFC continues to be a focus of research in psychology and neuroscience.