Self-regulation failure is a key factor in many social and mental health issues, often resulting from strong impulses, negative moods, or resource depletion. Cognitive neuroscience suggests that successful self-regulation relies on top-down control from the prefrontal cortex over subcortical regions involved in reward and emotion. Recent studies support a balance model where self-regulation failure occurs when subcortical areas dominate, either due to strong impulses or impaired prefrontal function. This model aligns with findings in addiction, emotion regulation, and decision-making. Self-regulation enables humans to cooperate, achieve goals, and maintain health. However, failures are common and contribute to issues like obesity, addiction, and poor financial decisions. Those who regulate better have improved relationships, job success, and mental health. Understanding self-regulation failure and its neural mechanisms can provide insights into controlling thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. Common self-regulation failures include relapse in addiction, overeating after dieting, and poor decision-making under stress. Negative emotions, such as those experienced in depression, can impair self-regulation by reducing cognitive resources and increasing impulsive behavior. The "abstinence violation effect" describes how initial indulgence can lead to further consumption. Cue exposure, such as seeing drug-related stimuli, activates reward regions and increases cravings. Neuroimaging studies show that self-regulation involves a balance between prefrontal and subcortical regions. When this balance tips toward subcortical areas, self-regulation fails. This is influenced by factors like negative mood, resource depletion, and brain damage. Self-regulation also involves controlling emotions and attitudes. Studies show that the prefrontal cortex regulates emotional responses by inhibiting amygdala activity. Patients with mood disorders often show disrupted prefrontal-amygdala interactions, contributing to emotional dysregulation. Self-regulation failure can occur when prefrontal function is impaired, such as after alcohol consumption or brain injury. The prefrontal-subcortical balance model suggests that successful self-regulation requires maintaining control over impulses and subcortical responses. This balance is crucial for regulating behaviors like eating, emotions, and attitudes. Neuroimaging research highlights the role of glucose metabolism in self-regulation, with depletion affecting brain function. Training and practice can enhance self-regulatory capacity, as shown in studies on dieting and smoking cessation. The prefrontal-subcortical balance model is central to understanding self-regulation, emphasizing the interplay between top-down control and subcortical impulses.Self-regulation failure is a key factor in many social and mental health issues, often resulting from strong impulses, negative moods, or resource depletion. Cognitive neuroscience suggests that successful self-regulation relies on top-down control from the prefrontal cortex over subcortical regions involved in reward and emotion. Recent studies support a balance model where self-regulation failure occurs when subcortical areas dominate, either due to strong impulses or impaired prefrontal function. This model aligns with findings in addiction, emotion regulation, and decision-making. Self-regulation enables humans to cooperate, achieve goals, and maintain health. However, failures are common and contribute to issues like obesity, addiction, and poor financial decisions. Those who regulate better have improved relationships, job success, and mental health. Understanding self-regulation failure and its neural mechanisms can provide insights into controlling thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. Common self-regulation failures include relapse in addiction, overeating after dieting, and poor decision-making under stress. Negative emotions, such as those experienced in depression, can impair self-regulation by reducing cognitive resources and increasing impulsive behavior. The "abstinence violation effect" describes how initial indulgence can lead to further consumption. Cue exposure, such as seeing drug-related stimuli, activates reward regions and increases cravings. Neuroimaging studies show that self-regulation involves a balance between prefrontal and subcortical regions. When this balance tips toward subcortical areas, self-regulation fails. This is influenced by factors like negative mood, resource depletion, and brain damage. Self-regulation also involves controlling emotions and attitudes. Studies show that the prefrontal cortex regulates emotional responses by inhibiting amygdala activity. Patients with mood disorders often show disrupted prefrontal-amygdala interactions, contributing to emotional dysregulation. Self-regulation failure can occur when prefrontal function is impaired, such as after alcohol consumption or brain injury. The prefrontal-subcortical balance model suggests that successful self-regulation requires maintaining control over impulses and subcortical responses. This balance is crucial for regulating behaviors like eating, emotions, and attitudes. Neuroimaging research highlights the role of glucose metabolism in self-regulation, with depletion affecting brain function. Training and practice can enhance self-regulatory capacity, as shown in studies on dieting and smoking cessation. The prefrontal-subcortical balance model is central to understanding self-regulation, emphasizing the interplay between top-down control and subcortical impulses.