The neural circuitry of emotion and affective style: prefrontal cortex andamygdala contributions

This article reviews the modern literature on two Ley aspects of the centra l circuitry of emotion - the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the amygdala. Ther e ave several different functional divisions of the PFC including the dorso lateral, ventromedial and orbitofrontal sectors. Each of these regions play s some role in affective processing that shares the feature of representing affect in the absence of immediate rewards and punishments as well as in d ifferent aspects of emotional regulation. The amygdala appears to be crucia l for the learning of new stimulus-threat contingencies and also appears to be important in the expression of cue-specific fear. Individual difference s in both tonic activation and phasic reactivity in this circuit play an im portant role in governing affective style. Emphasis is placed upon affectiv e chronometry, or the time course of emotional responding as a Ley attribut e of emotion that varies across individuals and is regulated by this circui try.