Lecture 9- Cognitive Control/Executive Functions Flashcards
(42 cards)
What are executive frontal functions?Cicerone et al., 2002
Executive frontal functions are integrative cognitive abilities that determine goal-directed and purposeful behavior, crucial for the orderly execution of daily life functions.
What analogies are used to explain executive frontal functions?
Executive frontal functions are compared to an orchestra conductor, who directs the musicians, and a corporate CEO, who oversees the master plan and exhibits social skills.
What are some key elements of executive control?
- Goal-Directed Behaviour
- Higher-Order Thinking
What does Goal-Directed Behaviour include? (6)
- Initiation of behaviour
-Creation/ maintenance of task set - sequencing
- strategy adjustment
- self-monitoring
- inhibition
What does Higher Order Thinking include? (4)
- Abstract & conceptual thinking
- Decision-making& judgement
- Rules & inference: Logic and predictions.
- Response to novelty & cognitive flexibility
What is cognitive control?
Mental abilities that involve planning, controlling, and regulating the flow of information processing.
What is goal-orientated behaviour?
Interacting with the world in a purposeful manner. Actions controlled by intentions.
Which area of the brain plays a cruical role in cognitive control and goal-oriented behavior?
Prefrontal Cortex
What are the 4 Executive Control: Models?
- Problem-solving and self-regulation (Luria, 1966)
- Supervisory Attentional System (Norman & Shallice, 1986)
- Transcending the ‘default mode’ (Mesulam, 2002)
- Goal Management
(Duncan, 1986, 1995)
What role does executive control play according to Luria (1966)?
Executive control serves as a bridge between intention and action, helping individuals connect what they want to do with what they actually do.
What problem do frontal patients face according to Luria (1966)?
Frontal patients demonstrate an inability to match actions with original intentions, often leading to omissions of relevant actions or insertion of irrelevant ones.
What is considered central to control processes according to Luria (1966)?
Verbal self-regulation and ‘inner-speech’ are considered central control processes, helping individuals regulate their actions and behavior.
According to Norman & Shallice (1986), what is the difference in cognitive control required for behavior in novel versus routine situations?
Behavior in novel and routine situations require different levels of cognitive control.
What are the two levels of demand for executive control according to Norman & Shallice (1986)?
Identified two levels of demand for executive control: one for controlling action in simple or well-learned situations, and another for controlling action in novel or complex situations.
What is the role of the Supervisory Attention System (SAS) according to Norman & Shallice (1986)?
The Supervisory Attention System (SAS) is essential for controlling behavior in unfamiliar or non-routine situations, helping individuals overcome habitual responding,
environmental dependency, distractibility etc
How do humans overcome the default mode according to Mesulam (2002)?
Humans overcome the default mode through cognitive control processes, which act as a buffer between a stimulus and action, allowing individuals to pause and think before responding.
What is the default mode described by Mesulam (2002)?
Basic way of reacting seen in animals and humans, where responses are driven by immediate gratification lacking modulation by context or experience, and without differentiation between salience and relevance.
What is the role of the prefrontal cortex in Duncan’s Goal Management model?
In Duncan’s model, the prefrontal cortex is critical for goal formulation, action selection, and goal monitoring, which are all aspects of managing actions to achieve desired results.
What is goal neglect, and what causes it?
Goal neglect is a common outcome of prefrontal cortex injury where task requirements are ignored despite being understood and retained.
What are the two main components of the executive frontal functions?
The two main components of the executive frontal functions are motor area and the prefrontal cortex, which receives direct projections from the dorsal medial thalamus.
What was the outcome of John Fulton’s experiment on chimpanzees?
John Fulton found that damaging the frontal lobes of chimpanzees changed their behavior from wild and uncontrollable to calm and tamed, suggesting the lobes’ role in behavior regulation.
What did Egas Moniz contribute to the field of neurology?
Egas Moniz developed a procedure to sever white matter connections in the frontal lobe of psychiatric patients, leading to reported improvements in their symptoms
What is the “ice-pick lobotomy,” and who developed it?
The “ice-pick lobotomy” is a simplified version of the frontal lobotomy developed by Walter Freeman used to sever connections in the prefrontal cortex. It became a widely used procedure for treating mental disorders.
What functions are associated with the different areas of the prefrontal cortex?
Lateral (dorsal prefrontal cortex)- congitive control
Lateral (ventral prefrontal cortex) - decision making, value and risk assesment
Orbital PFC: Decision-making, emotion regulation, sensory processing.
Ventral Medial PFC: social cognition,emotional regulation, decision making
Medial prefrontal cortex to processes like ‘energization,’ or the initiation and maintenance of goal-directed behavior.
