Connections of orbital cortex

This chapter describes the connections of the orbital and medial prefrontal cortex. Intrinsic connections indicate the presence of distinct orbital and medial networks, with the orbital network concentrated in central OFC subregions, and the medial network involving medial structures, and some areas on the medial and lateral orbital surface. The medial and orbital networks show strikingly differential patterns of input and output. The orbital network receives substantial input from sensory systems including olfaction, taste, visceral, visual, and somatosensory systems, and may serve to assess sensory objects, especially food. The medial network has little direct sensory input, but provides output to the hypothalamus and periaqueductal gray, and is heavily connected with limbic regions such as the amygdala, entorhinal cortex, and hippocampus. The medial and orbital networks are also connected to distinct parts of the striatum and mediodorsal thalamic nucleus.