9: The Executive Brain

Question 1

define: executive functions

Answer 1

control processes that enable an individual to optimise performance, requiring coordination of basic cognitive processes - brain’s conductor

Question 2

what kind of tasks (4) do executive functions control?

Answer 2

• Problem solving
• Overcoming habitual responses
• Task-switching
• Multi-tasking

Question 3

what part of the brain are executive functions associated with in general?

Answer 3

prefrontal cortex

Question 4

which parts of the prefrontal cortex are associated with problem solving?

Answer 4

ventrolateral & dorsolateral

Question 5

what part of the prefrontal cortex is associated with multi-tasking?

Answer 5

polar PFC

Question 6

which parts of the prefrontal cortex are associated with task-switching?

Answer 6

orbifrontal & ventromedial PFC

Question 7

which parts of the prefrontal cortex are associated with overcoming habitual responses?

Answer 7

anterior cingulate cortex

Question 8

how does trait deliberation modulate brain activity during problem solving tasks

Answer 8

Increased left dorsolateral PFC activation in individuals with high trait deliberation when solving problems

Question 9

what are 2 examples of habitual response tests?

Answer 9

go/no go test
stroop test

Question 10

when looking at executive functions what is the role of the anterior cingulate cortex?

Answer 10

error detection

Question 11

what are the 2 proposed roles the ACC plays in error detection?

Answer 11

Strategic control processes to reduce response conflict in a top-down manner?

Evaluative processes just to detect response conflict (different neural correlates for control)

Question 12

what are the dorsal & ventral regions of the ACC implicated in?

Answer 12

• Dorsal region = executive functions
• Ventral region = emotional processing

Question 13

what are 2 examples of tests of task-switching?

Answer 13

Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST)
Iowa Gambling Task

Question 14

is the ‘switch cost’ in the wisconsin card sorting test?

Answer 14

difference in reaction times between pattern No-switch and Switch trials

Question 15

which area of the brain shows activity during the switch trials in the Wisconsin card sorting task?

Answer 15

dorsolateral PFC

Question 16

is the switch cost greater for discarding complex for simple schema or simple for complex?

Answer 16

complex for simple

Question 17

how do participants with ventromedial PFC damage manage in the Iowa gambling task compared to healthy participants?

Answer 17

fail to switch from bad to good cards like health participants

Question 18

how do patients with ventromedial PFC damage perform on the stroop test & wisconsin card sorting test?

Answer 18

completely fine

Question 19

what is meant by a ‘hot’ executive control process?

Answer 19

stimuli related to reward (food, money)

Question 20

what is meant by a ‘cold’ executive control process?

Answer 20

purely cognitive stimuli (sensory dimensions)

Question 21

is task-switching a hot or cold executive function?

Answer 21

cold

Question 22

is reversed learning a hot or cold executive function?

Answer 22

hot

Question 23

define: reversed learning

Answer 23

Learning that a previously rewarded stimulus or response is no longer rewarded

Question 24

what is the double dissociation between hot and cold tasks in relation to brain lesions?

Answer 24

‘Hot’ stimuli – orbitofrontal/ventromedial PFC
‘Cold’ stimuli – lateral frontal cortex

Question 25

how does what we know about brain lesions explain why those with ventrolateral PFC damage perform badly on the iowa gambling task but not the stroop test or wisconsin gambling task?

Answer 25

ventrolateral PFC damage only links to reverse learning (hot executive functions, ie Iowa) not task switching (cold executive function, ie Wisconsin/ stroop)

Question 26

define: prospective memory

Answer 26

the ability to remember to do things in the future

Question 27

which executive function is prospective memory important for?

Answer 27

multi-tasking

Question 28

if someone had damage to their right polar prefrontal cortex, which kind of memory would this influence?

Answer 28

prospective - important for multi tasking

Question 29

what is the polar PFC’s role in the hierarchical ordered executive system?

Answer 29

Maintaining current episodic control and a pending context (other task goals – complex multitasking)

Question 30

what is the anterior lateral PFC’s role in the hierarchical ordered executive system?

Answer 30

Using episodic control to switch to a different context (rule set)

Question 31

what is the posterior lateral PFC’s role in the hierarchical ordered executive system?

Answer 31

Learned contextual information (rule set) guides response

Question 32

what is the premotor cortex’s role in the hierarchical ordered executive system?

Answer 32

Simple stimulus-response mappings