Attention, Selection, ADHD Flashcards
Attention is not a _____________ concept.
Why?
Unitary
It involves numerous aspects, pulls from different cognitive areas.
Name the four types of attention.
- Focused/ Selective
- Divided
- Sustained
- Mental Shifting
What is focused/ selective attention?
one’s ability to monitor their environment and attend to appropriate stimulus
What is divided attention?
One’s ability to ability to respond to more than one task at a time.
What is sustained attention?
Ability to attend to with vigilance and consistent response over time
What is mental shifting attention?
the mental flexibility required to shift between diff. task requirements which utilize distinct cognitive/situational requirements
Define Executive Functioning
activities that help you achieve a future goal by helping you to maintain an appropriate mental set
What three categories define Executive Functioning?
- inhibition/ restraint
- order/ working memory
- motivation/initiative
What four brains areas involved int EF? What are their functions?
- Prefrontal cortex (lots of connections, does the heavy lifting)- connections to : limbic system (motivation), reticular activating system(regulating arousal), postrios cortical areas (high order cognition), basal ganglia (behavioral/ response etc.)
- Parietal Lobe- working memory
- Basal Ganglia- behavioral/ cognitive control
- Cerebellum- mental shifting
What is unique about the frontal lobe?
largest area of brain (1/3 of entire brain)
What areas of frontal lobe are important for EF?
- Lateral Surface–> higher order fucntioning (planning, wm, set shifting)
- Medial Surface–> internal connection. w. limbic–> motivation
- basa ganglia–> response inhibition
How long does prefrontal cortex development last?
early childhood-adolescence
What happens early in prefrontal cortex development? Later?
early: development of sustained and selective
later: divided, mental shifting, planning
- plateaus at different points over time.
