Subcallosal Gyrus: A Comprehensive Overview
The subcallosal gyrus (SCG) is a part of the limbic system located in the medial aspect of the brain. It is composed of two gyri, the anterior and posterior subcallosal gyri. The SCG is involved in a variety of functions, including emotion and memory, as well as in the regulation of autonomic processes. This article will provide an overview of the anatomy, function, and clinical relevance of the SCG.
Anatomy
The SCG is located in the medial aspect of the brain, in the region between the corpus callosum and the septal nuclei.1 It is composed of two gyri, the anterior and posterior subcallosal gyri.2 The anterior SCG is located inferior to the corpus callosum, while the posterior SCG is located superior to the septal nuclei.1 The SCG is connected to other brain regions, including the amygdala, hippocampus, and ventral tegmental area.3
Function
The SCG plays an important role in a variety of functions, including emotion and memory.1,4 For example, the SCG has been linked to the regulation of autonomic processes, such as heart rate and breathing rate.4 It is also involved in the regulation of emotion, particularly the processing of fear and the expression of negative emotions.5 The SCG has also been implicated in memory processes, such as retrieval and encoding of memories.4
Clinical Relevance
The SCG has been implicated in various psychiatric and neurological disorders. For example, dysfunction of the SCG has been associated with schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder.6,7 In addition, alterations in the SCG have been observed in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting a role for the SCG in the pathophysiology of this disorder.8
Conclusion
The subcallosal gyrus is a crucial part of the limbic system which is involved in a variety of functions, including emotion and memory. Dysfunction of the SCG has been implicated in several psychiatric and neurological disorders, such as schizophrenia, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease. Further research is needed to further elucidate the role of the SCG in these and other disorders.
References
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2. Mayberg, H.S., Liotti, M., Brannan, S.K., McGinnis, S., Mahurin, R.K., Jerabek, P.A., Silva, J.A., Tekell, J.L., Martin, C.C., Lancaster, J.L., and Fox, P.T. (1999). Reciprocal limbic-cortical function and negative mood: Converging PET findings in depression and normal sadness. American Journal of Psychiatry, 156, 675-682.
3. Parvizi, J., & Damasio, A. (2006). The neuroanatomy of dementia. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1097, 82–96. https://doi.org/10.1196/annals.1376.005
4. Kannan, S., & Pu, S. (2016). The subcallosal gyrus: Anatomy, function, and clinical relevance. Neuropsychiatry, 6(4), 243–250. https://doi.org/10.2217/npy-2016-0015
5. LeDoux, J.E., Romanski, L.M., & Xagoraris, A.E. (1989). Indelibility of subcortical emotional memories. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 1(3), 238–243.
6. Blumberg, H.P., Kaufman, J., Martin, A., & Yurgelun-Todd, D. (2003). Differential regional cortical volume change in bipolar disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry, 160, 2221–2230.
7. Park, S., & Frangou, S. (2010). Structural brain abnormalities in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: A quantitative MRI study. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 182, 30–36.
8. Davatzikos, C., Resnick, S.M., Wu, X., & Golski, S. (2001). Subcortical volumes in Alzheimer’s disease: Automated segmentation and comparison with normal aging and headsize correction. NeuroImage, 14, 486–494.