The review by Etkin, Egner, and Kalisch examines the functional roles of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in emotional processing, particularly in the context of fear and anxiety. They challenge the traditional dichotomy of dorsal-caudal "cognitive" and ventral-rostral "affective" subdivisions, arguing that both subregions play key roles. The dorsal ACC/mPFC is involved in the appraisal and expression of negative emotions, while the ventral ACC/mPFC has a regulatory role, modulating limbic regions involved in generating emotional responses. This framework is consistent with data on other negative and positive emotions. The review discusses recent neuroimaging studies in humans and animal electrophysiology, as well as lesion studies, to support these findings. It highlights the importance of the dorsal ACC/mPFC in threat appraisal and expression, and the ventral ACC/mPFC in inhibiting conditioned fear through extinction. The authors also explore the role of the ACC/mPFC in emotional conflict regulation and top-down control of emotion, such as reappraisal. Finally, they discuss the functional connectivity of these regions and their integration with other perspectives on ACC/mPFC function.The review by Etkin, Egner, and Kalisch examines the functional roles of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in emotional processing, particularly in the context of fear and anxiety. They challenge the traditional dichotomy of dorsal-caudal "cognitive" and ventral-rostral "affective" subdivisions, arguing that both subregions play key roles. The dorsal ACC/mPFC is involved in the appraisal and expression of negative emotions, while the ventral ACC/mPFC has a regulatory role, modulating limbic regions involved in generating emotional responses. This framework is consistent with data on other negative and positive emotions. The review discusses recent neuroimaging studies in humans and animal electrophysiology, as well as lesion studies, to support these findings. It highlights the importance of the dorsal ACC/mPFC in threat appraisal and expression, and the ventral ACC/mPFC in inhibiting conditioned fear through extinction. The authors also explore the role of the ACC/mPFC in emotional conflict regulation and top-down control of emotion, such as reappraisal. Finally, they discuss the functional connectivity of these regions and their integration with other perspectives on ACC/mPFC function.