Figure 5.

Simplified mechanisms of emotion perception and regulation of flexible behavior (most of basal ganglia and thalamus left out). Bottom-up (fast) and top-down (slow) mechanisms. The MFB system (close to VTA–MBB complex in conjunction with the episodic memory Papez’ circuit) realizes a primary interpretation of interoceptive and exteroceptive signals (affect valence) and rates these as appetitive, aversive or neutral. This system (MAINTENANCE) allows for engagement towards or away from a given stimulus. The bottom-up system informs simultaneously about the cognitive (to dlPFC) and emotional (vmPFC, OFC) consequences. The top-down system allows an appraisal of the salience of an emotional context. It is assumed to be less cost effective and slow. (Legend: vmPFC, ventromedial PFC; OFC, orbitofrontal cortex; cc, corpus callosum; BA, Brodmann’s area; NAC, nucleus accumbens).