9: The Executive Brain Flashcards
define: executive functions
control processes that enable an individual to optimise performance, requiring coordination of basic cognitive processes - brain’s conductor
what kind of tasks (4) do executive functions control?
- Problem solving
- Overcoming habitual responses
- Task-switching
- Multi-tasking
what part of the brain are executive functions associated with in general?
prefrontal cortex
which parts of the prefrontal cortex are associated with problem solving?
ventrolateral & dorsolateral
what part of the prefrontal cortex is associated with multi-tasking?
polar PFC
which parts of the prefrontal cortex are associated with task-switching?
orbifrontal & ventromedial PFC
which parts of the prefrontal cortex are associated with overcoming habitual responses?
anterior cingulate cortex
how does trait deliberation modulate brain activity during problem solving tasks
Increased left dorsolateral PFC activation in individuals with high trait deliberation when solving problems
what are 2 examples of habitual response tests?
go/no go test
stroop test
when looking at executive functions what is the role of the anterior cingulate cortex?
error detection
what are the 2 proposed roles the ACC plays in error detection?
Strategic control processes to reduce response conflict in a top-down manner?
Evaluative processes just to detect response conflict (different neural correlates for control)
what are the dorsal & ventral regions of the ACC implicated in?
- Dorsal region = executive functions
- Ventral region = emotional processing
what are 2 examples of tests of task-switching?
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST)
Iowa Gambling Task
is the ‘switch cost’ in the wisconsin card sorting test?
difference in reaction times between pattern No-switch and Switch trials
which area of the brain shows activity during the switch trials in the Wisconsin card sorting task?
dorsolateral PFC
is the switch cost greater for discarding complex for simple schema or simple for complex?
complex for simple
how do participants with ventromedial PFC damage manage in the Iowa gambling task compared to healthy participants?
fail to switch from bad to good cards like health participants
how do patients with ventromedial PFC damage perform on the stroop test & wisconsin card sorting test?
completely fine
what is meant by a ‘hot’ executive control process?
stimuli related to reward (food, money)
what is meant by a ‘cold’ executive control process?
purely cognitive stimuli (sensory dimensions)
is task-switching a hot or cold executive function?
cold
is reversed learning a hot or cold executive function?
hot
define: reversed learning
Learning that a previously rewarded stimulus or response is no longer rewarded
what is the double dissociation between hot and cold tasks in relation to brain lesions?
‘Hot’ stimuli – orbitofrontal/ventromedial PFC
‘Cold’ stimuli – lateral frontal cortex
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?
ventrolateral PFC damage only links to reverse learning (hot executive functions, ie Iowa) not task switching (cold executive function, ie Wisconsin/ stroop)
define: prospective memory
the ability to remember to do things in the future
which executive function is prospective memory important for?
multi-tasking
if someone had damage to their right polar prefrontal cortex, which kind of memory would this influence?
prospective - important for multi tasking
what is the polar PFC’s role in the hierarchical ordered executive system?
Maintaining current episodic control and a pending context (other task goals – complex multitasking)
what is the anterior lateral PFC’s role in the hierarchical ordered executive system?
Using episodic control to switch to a different context (rule set)
what is the posterior lateral PFC’s role in the hierarchical ordered executive system?
Learned contextual information (rule set) guides response
what is the premotor cortex’s role in the hierarchical ordered executive system?
Simple stimulus-response mappings
