that are also characterized by cortico-cortical connections and connections with brain regions outside the PFC. The medial PFC is connected with the thalamus and sends efferents to the hypothalamus and periaqueductal gray, and belongs to a network that plays a major role in autonomic and somatic responses to emotional stimuli. The ACC receives similar reciprocal projection as the medial PFC but is thought to belong to a network involved in attentional processing and conflict monitoring. The OFC is densely connected with the basal ganglia, amygdala, and other prefrontal areas, and belongs to a network that mediates motivational and affective aspects of behavior. The medial and OFC networks are sometimes grouped together as the orbitomedial PFC (OMPFC). The medial PFC and OFC are phylogenetically older regions, whereas the lateral PFC is a phylogenetically newer structure and provide substrates for executive cognitive functions. The role of the PFC in behavioral control is discussed in greater detail in the following section.
