The cingulate cortex is a fascinating area of the human brain that has attracted a lot of attention recently. It resides within the medial surface of the cerebral hemisphere, and is perhaps most well known as being part of the limbic system. It shares many important neural circuits, such as those with reward centers, amygdala, lateral prefrontal cortex, parietal cortex, motor areas, spinal cord, hippocampus, and limbic regions. Although previously viewed as a mysterious territory of the brain, evidence from cognitive and fMRI studies have established a better understanding of the cingulate cortex in the last decade. Its functional role continues to be heavily studied to this day. In the following sections, we shed more light on the cingulate cortical structure, function, and clinical and surgical significance.

The cingulate cortex is made up of the cingulate gyrus and the cortical gray matter lining the superior and inferior borders of the cingulate sulcus. As the Latin translation of “cingulate” would suggest, the cingulate gyrus wraps around the corpus callosum like a “belt.” It begins beneath the rostrum of the corpus callosum, curves around the genu and projects above the superior surface of the body of the corpus callosum, reaching its posterior end where it terminates at the isthmus of the cingulate gyrus. The isthmus is continuous inferiorly with the parahippocampal gyrus in the temporal lobe. The cingulate gyrus is separated from the corpus callosum inferiorly by the callosal sulcus, and from the superior frontal gyrus superiorly by the cingulate sulcus.

The cingulate cortex divides into four functionally distinct regions: the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), midcingulate cortex, posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), and retrosplenial cortex.[1] The ACC comprises Brodmann’s areas (BA) 24, 25, 32, and 33, and can be further broken down into three subregions. The perigenual anterior cingulate cortex (pACC) is mainly responsible for processing emotions and regulating the endocrine and autonomic responses to emotions. The dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), often known as the midcingulate cortex,[2] is thought to carry out cognitive processing, specifically reward-based decision making. The cingulate motor areas (CMA) higher-order motor areas in the cortex, located within the cingulate sulcus next to the primary and supplementary motor cortices. The CMAs process information from our internal and external states (e.g., emotional state signals from the limbic system) and translate them into motor commands which are executed by the primary and supplementary motor cortices and spinal cord.[3]

The PCC houses BA 23, 29, 30, and 31. The thick granular layer IV of the PCC marks a clear histologic distinction from the thin agranular layer IV of the ACC. The PCC consists of the posterior cingulate cortex proper (ventral and dorsal PCC) which are responsible for visuospatial orientation. Although contained within the PCC, the retrosplenial cortex is considered a distinct region of the cingulate cortex. It is implicated in imagination and the formation and consolidation of episodic memory.[4][5]

As seen from the extensive neural pathways it shares with other brain regions, the cingulate cortex can be considered, in a sense, a connecting hub of emotions, sensation, and action. Some of these pathways are those involved in motivational processing, which is apparent through the connections with the orbitofrontal cortex, basal ganglia, and insula, which together make up the reward centers of the brain. Also, the cingulate cortex projects pathways to the lateral prefrontal cortex which is involved in executive control, working memory, and learning. Pathways between cingulate cortex and motor areas like the primary and supplementary motor cortices, spinal cord, and frontal eye fields, suggest an important role in motor control. Moreover, the cingulate cortex, frontal and parietal lobes comprise a neural network for orienting attention, and expectedly, injury to any of these areas is known to cause hemineglect. The neural circuits cingulate cortex shares with the hippocampus and amygdala suggest a role in consolidating long-term memories and processing emotionally-relevant stimuli, respectively.[6]

During embryonic development, the prosencephalon (forebrain) gives rise to the telencephalon and diencephalon at around week 6. The telencephalon differentiates into the two cerebral hemispheres which include the cingulate gyrus on their medial surface.

The anterior cerebral artery supplies the majority of the medial surface of the cerebral hemisphere, including the cingulate gyrus. As a direct continuation of the anterior cerebral artery, the pericallosal artery travels within the callosal sulcus and gives off many small cortical branches that supply the rostrum of the cingulate gyrus. The callomarginal artery, the largest branch of the anterior cerebral artery, runs within the cingulate sulcus and supplies the portion of cingulate gyrus underlying the paracentral lobule. Posteriorly, the precuneus and posterior cingulate gyrus receive vascular supply from the precuneal artery, a branch of the pericallosal artery.[7]