Brodmann area 11

Brodmann area 11 is one of the cytoarchitecturally defined regions of the brain. It is located in the frontal cortex, primarily in the orbital part of the frontal lobe. This area is also known as the Orbitofrontal cortex (OFC).

Anatomy[edit | edit source]

Brodmann area 11 is a subdivision of the cerebral cortex of the guenon defined on the basis of cytoarchitecture. It is cytoarchitecturally homologous to the prefrontal cortex of the human (Brodmann-1909). In the human, it occupies the orbital part of inferior frontal gyrus (H) and the medial part of the orbital gyrus (H). It is bounded medially by the cingulate area 24 of Brodmann-1909, from which it is separated by the cingulate sulcus; rostrally it is bounded by the Brodmann area 10 (H) and caudally by the Brodmann area 47 (H) (Brodmann-1905).

Function[edit | edit source]

The Brodmann area 11 is involved in planning, reasoning, decision making, and impulse control. It is also associated with the processing of social and emotional information. Damage to this area can result in personality changes, impulsivity, and poor decision making.

Clinical significance[edit | edit source]

Damage to Brodmann area 11 has been implicated in a variety of disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. It is also implicated in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), as this area is often hyperactive in people with OCD.