zacharopoulos et al 2020 study

Question 1

what is the basis of this research

Answer 1

cognitive flexibility

Question 2

what are the 3 conditions/executive functions

Answer 2

1.info maintenance
2.distraction filtering
3.stimulus updating

Question 3

procedure

Answer 3

phase 1: PREPARATORY: shape informs pp what executive function they will engage in e.g square for maintenance, triangle for distraction, circle for updating

phase 2: ENCODING: 16 boxes in circle formation, 3 filled with red circle, pp need to recall position of these

phase 3: DELAY

phase 4: EXECUTIVE CONTROL: pp perform the task based on previous shape

phase 5: DELAY

phase 6: RESPONSE: question mark in box and pp responds yes or no

Question 4

what is the key executive function here

Answer 4

task switching

Question 5

what are the 2 conditions of task switching

Answer 5

switch trials and stay trials

Question 6

what is a stay trial

Answer 6

trial is same as previous e.g distraction filtering for 2 trials

Question 7

what is a switch trial

Answer 7

trial type now is different to previous trial

Question 8

how would the subtraction method isolate the stimulus updating trial

Answer 8

subtracting the stimulus updating trial from the info maintenance trial

Question 9

what does this study report differently to the first

Answer 9

reports brain volume NOT activity

Question 10

what is the finding

Answer 10

pp with larger L globus pallidus vol. had greater task switching score

Question 11

how is the concern:
(cognitive specificity) whether the L globus pallidus correlation is cog specific
adressed…

Answer 11

controlled for these factors:
- L globus pallidus volume - total volume - study location - distraction filtering - stimulus updating

-even with these controls the vol of the L globus pallidus was still sig
-this means it predicts task switching performance even when controlling for other executive functions
-shows the correlation between L globus pallidus and task switching is cog specific

Question 12

how is the concern:
regional specificity (task switching might be predicted by every part of the brain)
addressed…

Answer 12

-control for L and R globus pallidus volume, total volume, study location
-L globus pallidus still significant so this predicts task switching
-association between L globus pallidus volume and task switching is neuroanatomically specific