Spindle neurons in the anterior cingulate cortex of humans and great apes

Abstract

The anterior cingulate cortex (Brodmann's areas 24 and 25), which is a part of the limbic system, lies ventral and rostral to thecorpus callosum. In addition to regulating autonomic and endocrinefunctions, the area has been shown to be involved in emotional learning, attention, error recognition, and pain. Furthermore, it is involved in vocalization, singing, and word processing, suggesting that the area is of importance to higher brain functions such as communication and language (for review, see Bush et al. 2000; Devinsky et al. 1995; Paus 2001; Posner and Rothbart 1998; Vogt et al. 1992).