This article explores the neural mechanisms underlying self-control in decision-making, focusing on the role of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). The study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to monitor brain activity in dieters making real decisions about food consumption. The results show that vmPFC activity correlates with goal values, which reflect the expected reward of consuming a food item, regardless of whether self-control is exercised. In self-controllers (SCs), vmPFC activity incorporates both taste and health, while in non-self-controllers (NSCs), it only reflects taste. DLPFC activity increases when self-control is exercised and correlates with vmPFC activity. The study also found that DLPFC and vmPFC exhibit functional connectivity during self-control trials, suggesting that DLPFC modulates the value signal in vmPFC to enhance self-control. The findings suggest that self-control involves the integration of multiple factors, such as health and taste, in the vmPFC, with DLPFC playing a critical role in incorporating long-term considerations into decision-making. The results also support the idea that self-control is related to cognitive control, emotional regulation, and general intelligence. The study has implications for understanding decision-making in clinical, economic, and legal contexts. The article cites 30 references, 10 of which are freely accessible.This article explores the neural mechanisms underlying self-control in decision-making, focusing on the role of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). The study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to monitor brain activity in dieters making real decisions about food consumption. The results show that vmPFC activity correlates with goal values, which reflect the expected reward of consuming a food item, regardless of whether self-control is exercised. In self-controllers (SCs), vmPFC activity incorporates both taste and health, while in non-self-controllers (NSCs), it only reflects taste. DLPFC activity increases when self-control is exercised and correlates with vmPFC activity. The study also found that DLPFC and vmPFC exhibit functional connectivity during self-control trials, suggesting that DLPFC modulates the value signal in vmPFC to enhance self-control. The findings suggest that self-control involves the integration of multiple factors, such as health and taste, in the vmPFC, with DLPFC playing a critical role in incorporating long-term considerations into decision-making. The results also support the idea that self-control is related to cognitive control, emotional regulation, and general intelligence. The study has implications for understanding decision-making in clinical, economic, and legal contexts. The article cites 30 references, 10 of which are freely accessible.