Anatomy and function of the orbital frontal cortex, II: Function and relevance to obsessive-compulsive disorder

Abstract

The authors review neurophysiological, neurobehavioral, and neuropsychological investigations of the orbital frontal cortex (OFC) in human and non-human primates. The article critically examines the role of the OFC in 1) recognition of reinforcers; 2) stimulus-reinforcer learning; 3) modulation of responses based on changes in reinforcement contingencies; 4) emotions, social behavior, and autonomic regulation; 5) mnemonic functions; and 6) rule learning. Examining these functional areas with reference to the OFC's anatomical and neurophysiological properties, the authors suggest ways in which the OFC might contribute to obsessive-compulsive disorder.