Chapter 16: Executive Function Flashcards
(40 cards)
Most of executive functions are associated with what region of the brain?
Prefrontal cortex (PFC)
What are the two aspects of executive function that represent the highest levels of a taxonomy?
- Establishing rules and modifying rules for behavior
- Engaging the appropriate rule for a particular context (Contextual control)
Effective use of rules for behavior requires what 4 functions?
1a. Initiating new rules: that match stimuli to actions based on behavioral goals
1b. Inhibiting inappropriate rules: discarding rules that are not relevant to behavior
1c. Shifting among rules: functions that facilitate the transition from one rule for behavior to another more appropriate rule
1d. Relating rules: relating rules to each other to form higher-order contingencies for behavior
4 Functions/ Subsections within Rule Processing
- Initiating new rules
- Inhibiting inappropriate rules
- Shifting among rules
- Relating rules
Contextual Control functions include _______.
Monitoring
Monitoring the current state of the environment to guide engagement of other executive functions
-for example, if the environment is changing rapidly, then rules should be updated more frequently than would be the case in a stable environment
Three sorts of executive function
- Establishing and modifying rules
- Context-dependent engagement of control systems
- Working memory
All executive functions rely on capacity-limited short-term information stores called ________
working memory
Working memory enables _______ and ________ of rules.
maintenance and manipulation
“PFC is not a ______ region”
precise
The boundaries of PFC within the _____ lobe are poorly defined. Some researchers include ______ areas, while others do not. There is no gold standard.
Frontal lobe.
Some researchers include premotor areas
Miller and Cohen suggest that PFC serves to enforce rules that are _________________.
Provide example
PFC enforce rules that are appropriate to a given situation.
Ex: its okay to wipe food off your child’s mouth but not your Uber driver’s mouth
The PFC also manages ______ to the rules: it’s OK (even heroic) to grab a stranger’s arm and yank them- if they’re about to step in front of a bus.
exceptions
The prefrontal cortex is subdivided into two functional regions
- Lateral (away from midline)
- Medial (toward midline)
Lateral Prefrontal cortex includes which 3 structures
1.Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
2. Ventrolateral prefrontal cortex
3. Posterior parietal cortex
Medial PFC contains which 4 structures
- Dorsomedial prefrontal cortex
- Anterior cingulate gyrus
- Orbitofrontal gyrus
- ventromedial prefrontal cortex
Connectivity tracing studies reveal distinct ______ and _______ PFC networks, along with overlapping regions of shared connectivity.
lateral and medial
Lateral prefrontal cortex connects with 6 regions.
Lateral PFC networks support general purpose perceptual-_______________, _______, and __________.
- Supplementary motor cortex (SM)
- Premotor cortex (PM)
- Frontal eye fields (FEF)
- Parietal cortex (PC)
- Secondary visual cortex (V2)
- Secondary auditory cortex (A2)
perceptual-motor, preparatory, and goal monitoring
Medial Prefrontal Cortex (Ventromedial PFC/Orbitofrontal cortex) connects with with 3 regions.
Medial PFC networks support: ________, _______ integration, and __________.
- Amygdala (Amy)
- Medial temporal lobe (MTL)
- Primary and secondary somatosensory cortices (S1/S2)
Emotion/ memory integration, and physical awareness.
Both PFC regions (Lateral & Medial PFC) connect with 4 regions.
Both PFC networks depend on ______, _______.
- Thalamus (Tha)
- Basal Ganglia (BG)
- Anterior Cingulate cortex (ACC)
- Insular cortex (Ins)
Both depend on motor control and conflict monitoring
Damage to Lateral PFC leads to lack of ______, ______, and _______.
Which syndrome does this lead to? Do individuals with this syndrome recognize their own deficits? What do they do if they are left alone?
action, initiative, and planning
Dysexecutive syndrome- they respond OK to questions, show a normal-ish IQ, but fail to prepare for the future, stick to task, or maintain attention for longer than a few moments.
If left alone, they sit down and don’t initiate any action at all.
They don’t recognize their own deficits, or relate to these behaviors in others. It doesn’t compute for them.
Damage to which brain structures in Lateral PFC would lead to dysexecutive syndrome?
Damage to dorsolateral PFC, ventrolateral PFC, and/or posterior paritetal cortex
Medial PFC damage is linked with ______.
Damage to which brain structures in medial PFC?
Leads to which syndrome?
Do they have any awareness of this?
excessive, impulsive action, without self awareness
Damage to dorsomedial PFC, anterior cingulate cortex, ventromedial PFC, and orbitofrontal cortex.
Disinhibition syndrome– deficits in controlling aspects of behavior.
-Problems integrating emotional information into decision making processes.
-They are unaware of their inappropriate behavior, and appear manic, impulsive, and disorganized.
Damage to lateral PFC leads to ______ syndrome. Patients lack _____, _____, and ______.
Damage to medial PFC leads to ______ syndrome. Patients appear ____, _____, and _____.
Lateral damage=> Dysexecutive syndrome -> lack action, initiative, and planning.
Medial Damage => Disinhibition syndrome -> manic, impulsive, and disorganized.
Environmental Dependency Syndrome is caused by damage to which region?
Anterior Medial PFC
-farthest forward
