Neural activity in the human brain relating to uncertainty and arousal during anticipation

We used functional magnetic resonance neuroimaging to measure brain activit y during delay between reward-related decisions and their outcomes, and the modulation of this delay activity by uncertainty and arousal. Feedback, in dicating financial gain or loss, was given following a fixed delay. Anticip atory arousal was indexed by galvanic skin conductance. Delay-period activi ty was associated with bilateral activation in orbital and medial prefronta l, temporal, and right parietal cortices. During delay, activity in anterio r cingulate and orbitofrontal cortices was modulated by outcome uncertainty , whereas anterior cingulate, dorsolateral prefrontal, and parietal cortice s activity was modulated by degree of anticipatory arousal. A distinct regi on of anterior cingulate was commonly activated by both uncertainty and aro usal. Our findings highlight distinct contributions of cognitive uncertaint y and autonomic arousal to anticipatory neural activity in prefrontal corte x.