The Frontal Cortex and Executive Function

Question 1

executive function describes the interelated processes responsible for [….] behaviour

Answer 1

goal-directed, purposeful

Question 2

the prefrontal cortex contains 3 aspects: lateral, […], and […]

Answer 2

medial and orbital

Question 3

the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is largely supplied by the [….] artery.

it performs traditional executive functions such as [….].

Answer 3

middel cerebral artery.

working memory, response selection, insight, moral judgement, planning and organizing, hypothesis generation

Question 4

the medial prefrontal cortex is largely supplied by the [….] artery.

it performs executive functions at the [….] interface. This is important for giving us our sense of [……].

Answer 4

anterior cerebral artery.

motivational-emotional.

Gives us our sense of self-awareness —- damage could make us very selfish.

—>produces states of apathy, initiative, indifference.

Question 5

the orbital prefrontal cortex is supplied by the […] arteries.

this is highly connected to [...] areas. 
controls inhibition (emotional, cognitive, social) and impulsivity.

Answer 5

the anterior and middle cerebral arteries.

limbic.

Question 6

the frontal lobe is the […] area of the brain to develop and the […] area of the brain to degenerate with the aging process.

rate of frontal development is influenced by […] factors

Answer 6

last.
first.

genetic and environmental

Question 7

T/F: brainstem and cerebellar lesions can produce executive functioning deficits.

Answer 7

TRUE.

executive function is a complex network branching throughout the brain and is not synonymous with frontal lobe dysfunction.

NB: The prefrontal cortex is more of a ‘coordinator’ within the great executive function system.

Question 8

formal neuropsychological tests are most sensitive to dysfunction of the [….] cortex, where as lesions of the [….] and [….] cortex are very difficult to assess.

Answer 8

dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.
using tower of london, stroop test, or red complex figure test)

medial and orbitofrontal cortex lesions are difficult to assess. (can be elucidated with good clinical judgement and history taking).

Question 9

common causes of executive dysfunction?

Answer 9

• closed head injury (motor vehicle accidents, falls, assults)
• Stroke (middle and anterior cerebral artery, anterior communicating artery).
• Psychiatric conditons (alzheimer’s and mania)
• Dementia’s (fronto-temporal dementia, huntington’s disease, alzheimer’s disease)
• Focal lesions (Tumour, cortical malformations)
• Inflammatory (MS, encephalitis)
• Developmental (autism)