Wk12 Frontal Lobes & Higher Functions Flashcards
What are some “supervisory functions” of the Fontal lobes? 3
WM, inhibition, control, interacting with social/physical environment
What was the main thing that happened to Phineas Gage after his accident?
He underwent a dramatic personality shift
What area of brain was damaged, phineas gage?
frontal cortex
What neuropathology was associated with Arnold Pick? 2
Frontotemporal atrophy “knife like” thinning of the gyri in the frontal and temporal lobes Swollen “pick” cells with abnormal tau proteins
What were abnormal spontaneous behaviours associated with frontotemporal dementia in Arnold Pick’s case?
Inappropriate jocularity Echolalia (repeating others’ words) Echopraxia (repeating gestures) Disinhibited approach or utilisation behaviours Unkempt, depsressed Primitive reflexes (grasp, suck, snout, toes)
What are the classic frontal lobe syndromes? (Which may not actually exist) 2
Orbitofrontal dysfunction: Aggression & social inappropriateness, apathy, disinhibition Dorsomedial or dorsolateral dysfunction: apathy, decrease are spontaneity.
What was more severe in Pick’s case of FTD, speech and language or memory impairment?
Speech and language not as severe as behavioural
What movement disorders were found in Pick? 2
Perseveration & akinesia (rigidity)
What were two early forms of frontal lobotomy?
Leucotome (extruding cutting wire from a rod) Transorbital sectioning (through the eye)
What was the aim of frontal lobotomies at the time?
Calm down severe psychiatric patients
Who invented transorbital lobotomies?
Walter Freeman, the travelling man
What did Fulton and Jakobsen think of Freemans transorbital lobotomy?
They didn’t like it and said it would be better to use a gun if they wanted ‘efficiency’
Why were frontal lobotomy patients “stimulus-bound”? 3
They reacted to whatever was in front of them and didn’t respond to imaginary situations, rules, or plans in the future.
What neuropathology was found in W.R.? How did his life change?
Astrocytoma, very large. Invading lateral prefrontal cortex. Lost interest/motivation in many things & couldn’t attach emotions to his own prognosis.
What does damage to the frontal lobes seem to cause?
Apathy Irritibility, aggression Poor social control, inappropriateness Poor planning, self-direction Distractibility Poor motor control Stimulus bound
What are on-line manipulations?
Interpreting the environment based on previous knowledge
Do mental operations in the WM involve rehearsal?
No
Where does on-line manipulation occur in the brain?
In working memory, lateral prefrontal cortex.
What happens when you change the instruction but not the stimulus in a neuropsychological test?
Change the cognitive function being used.
What is involved in working memory manipulations?
Internal representation used to reorganise information
How do McCarthy et al 1994 test spatial working memory?
respond to a display where a stimulus occurs in a previously presented location. Vs. just respond to the colour red (control)
What is the Wisconsin card sorting test?
Ps sort cards based on categories of colour, shape or number of objects on the cards. Experimenters only provide yes or no feedback on the category.
What does the Wisconsin card sorting test test for?
Concept formation concept shifting concept perseveration
What does normal performance on the wisonconsin card sorting test show?
People given correction on their errors then shift the category they use.
