Lecture 15 Flashcards
(16 cards)
What is the difference between sources and sites of attentional control?
Sources (e.g., frontal, parietal areas) direct attention, while sites (e.g., V1, V4) are the targets where attention modulates processing.
How can attentional control influence sensory processing?
It can enhance relevant information and suppress irrelevant input in posterior cortex (e.g., FFA, PPA).
What happens when PFC is damaged in terms of attentional filtering?
Filtering is impaired; individuals show increased responses to irrelevant stimuli (e.g., auditory response in ignored ear).
How does TMS to PFC affect attentional modulation?
It reduces attention-related neural enhancement (e.g., reduced P100 in attend vs. ignore tasks) and degrades performance.
Can the brain coordinate multiple attentional streams at once?
Yes, the brain can represent multiple processing streams independently, like using cognitive muscles.
What does persistent PFC activity during a working memory delay indicate?
It reflects maintenance of information after stimulus offset and predicts working memory performance.
How does PFC activity change with working memory load?
Activity increases with load and stops once the item is no longer needed.
What happens in PFC-lesioned monkeys during memory tasks?
They struggle to recall food locations unless cued or distractions are removed (e.g., darkened room).
What is the sensory recruitment hypothesis in working memory?
Sensory areas that process certain information also maintain it during working memory (e.g., visual, auditory regions).
What is the difference between ‘active’ and ‘silent’ states in memory representation?
Active state involves ongoing neural activity; silent state retains info without sustained firing, possibly via synaptic traces.
How does working memory support complex behavior?
It helps hold goals in mind, integrate information, plan, direct action, and maintain continuity over time.
How are ventral vs. dorsal lateral PFC regions involved in working memory?
Ventral PFC supports maintenance (e.g., rehearsal), while dorsal PFC supports manipulation (e.g., reordering).
What is the gating dilemma in working memory?
Balancing stability (maintaining info) with flexibility (updating info), possibly solved by basal ganglia-like gating mechanisms.
What is the hierarchical organization of the PFC?
More anterior PFC handles abstract, high-level goals; more posterior PFC handles concrete, action-related goals.
Give an example of abstract vs. concrete goal representation in PFC.
Abstract: ‘Do well on the exam’; Concrete: ‘Turn off the light’, ‘Open the book’.
When might controlled processing be counterproductive?
During overthinking or overriding efficient, well-learned behaviors with unnecessary deliberation.
