Abstract

Event-related functional MRI and a version of the Stroop color naming task were used to test two conflicting theories of anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) function during executive processes of cognition. A response-related increase in ACC activity was present when strategic processes were less engaged, and conflict high, but not when strategic processes were engaged and conflict reduced. This is inconsistent with the widely held view that the ACC implements strategic processes to reduce cognitive conflicts, such as response competition. Instead, it suggests that the ACC serves an evaluative function, detecting cognitive states such as response competition, which may lead to poor performance, and representing the knowledge that strategic processes need to be engaged.

Keywords

Stroop effectAnterior cingulate cortexCognitionCognitive psychologyPsychologyExecutive functionsStrategic controlTask (project management)Function (biology)Error-related negativityNeuroscienceStrategic thinkingStrategic planningBiologyManagementEconomics

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Publication Info

Year
2000
Type
article
Volume
97
Issue
4
Pages
1944-1948
Citations
953
Access
Closed

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Cameron S. Carter, Angus W. MacDonald, Matthew Botvinick et al. (2000). Parsing executive processes: Strategic vs. evaluative functions of the anterior cingulate cortex. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , 97 (4) , 1944-1948. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.97.4.1944

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DOI
10.1073/pnas.97.4.1944