Activity in ventromedial prefrontal cortex covaries with sympathetic skin conductance level: a physiological account of a “default mode” of brain function

We examined neural activity related to modulation of skin conductance level (SCL), an index of sympathetic tone, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while subjects performed biofeedback arousal and relaxation tasks. Neural activity within the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC) and the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) covaried with skin conductance level (SCL), irrespective of task. Activity within striate and extrastriate cortices, anterior cingulate and insular cortices, thalamus, hypothalamus and lateral regions of prefrontal cortex reflected the rate of change in electrodermal activity, highlighting areas supporting transient skin conductance responses (SCRs). Successful performance of either biofeedback task (where SCL changed in the intended direction) was associated with enhanced activity in mid-OFC. The findings point to a dissociation between neural systems controlling basal sympathetic tone (SCL) and transient skin conductance responses (SCRs). The level of activity in VMPFC has been related to a default mode of brain function and our findings provide a physiological account of this state, indicating that activity within VMPFC and OFC reflects a dynamic between exteroceptive and interoceptive deployment of attention.