Scientific Lectures //
Title: The Role of prefrontal cortex in emotion and social behavior: Evidence from brain lesion pati
Mike Koenigs, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Presented: March 8, 2013
ABSTRACT: Humans are clearly not entirely ‘rational’ creatures, whose behaviors are strictly determined by universal social, moral, or economic laws. Emotions are known to play a pivotal role in determining our behavior and shaping our individual personalities. Neurological patients who have undergone dramatic changes in personality as a result of their brain injuries are a unique source of data in this regard. This talk will describe research showing that damage to a particular area of the brain—the ventromedial prefrontal cortex—is associated with deficits in emotional responsiveness, moral judgment, and economic decision-making. These findings may be applied to better understand the neurobiological basis of affective disorders such as depression, anxiety, and psychopathy.
To view presenation please click here.
