An integral part of the ECFs of the PFC is a system that is sensitive to the need for allocation of attention under conditions of conflict. Evidence is accumulating that the medial PFC (which includes the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)) plays this role, by monitoring for conflict between the individual’s responses and the desired response (Botvinick, Braver, Barch, Carter, & Cohen, 2001). Errors are detected by this subsystem, which can then summon greater attention to facilitate performance. Deficiencies in medial PFC functioning have been related to a predisposition for drug use (Tarter et al., 2004). As with the other systems that are part of PFC proper, medial PFC function cannot be truly isolated, but it can be taxed disproportionately with proper task design. We administered two tasks to assess cognitive control.
