Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC)

Anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), the brain’s ACC is uniquely positioned in the frontal cingulate cortex to process both emotional (limbic system)and cognitive (prefrontal cortex/PFC) information. It detects when incompatible response tendencies (how we respond to conflict) are activated at the same time. It signals the need for executive function (EF) to take over (decision-making, attention allocation, impulse control, reward anticipation, empathy). The ACC also handles affect regulation (control/manage uncomfortable emotions, like fear) and modulates the autonomic nervous system (ANS), making pain less distressing. The ACC helps us better regulate emotions. Also see Adaptive Coping Mechanisms