Chapter 13 Flashcards
abulia
A symptom of brain damage, often to the frontal lobes, that manifests as flat affect, limited willpower, and reduced motivation.
acquired sociopathy
A personality change, often following focal damage to the frontal lobes, in which a person’s behavior becomes sociopathic.
anterior cingulate cortex
The portion of the midline frontal lobe comprising the anterior extent of the cingulate gyrus and adjacent cortex; its dorsal regions are associated with
executive functions.
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
A childhood disorder of unknown cause characterized by impulsiveness, short attention span, and continual activity.
Baddeley model
A model, proposed by Alan Baddeley, positing that working memory consists of three memory buffers (the phonological loop, the visuospatial sketchpad, and the episodic buffer) that briefly maintain information, as well as a central executive that allocates attentional resources to the buffers.
confabulation
In patients with memory disorders, the generation of false memories for complex autobiographical events.
delay-period activity
In cognitive neuroscience studies of working memory, the observation of neural signals that persist while the research subject maintains information over time.
disinhibition syndrome
Also called frontal disinhibition syndrome. A collection of behavioral signs and symptoms, typically caused by damage to the ventral prefrontal cortex; manifested by a loss of control, inappropriate outbursts, and a lack of inhibition in social settings.
dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
A functional division of the prefrontal cortex roughly corresponding to the middle and superior frontal gyri, as located anterior to motor cortex and the frontal eye fields.
dorsomedial prefrontal cortex
A functional division of the prefrontal cortex roughly corresponding to the medial surface dorsal to the corpus callosum.
dysexecutive syndrome
Also called frontal dysexecutive syndrome. A collection of behavioral signs and symptoms, typically caused by damage to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; manifested by an inability to change behavior willfully and flexibly according to context.
error-related negativity (ERN)
An electrophysiological marker that occurs when participants make errors in cognitive tasks.
executive function
The cognitive functions that allow flexible and goal-directed control of thought and behavior.
frontopolar cortex
The most anterior part of the prefrontal cortex.
Integration of rules
lateral prefrontal cortex
The portion of the frontal lobes that lies along the lateral surface of the cerebral cortex, usually restricted to regions anterior to motor cortex.
monitoring
The process that evaluates the appropriateness of a given behavior for the current context; examples include evaluating the accuracy of answers generated during a memory test or the adequacy of a response rule in an executive function paradigm.
orbitofrontal cortex
The division of the prefrontal cortex that lies above the orbits in the most rostral and ventral extension of the sagittal fissure; important in emotional processing and decision making.
P300
Also called P3. A large positive ERP wave elicited by stimuli that are surprising, are of an infrequent event type, or are task-relevant targets, usually when occurring within a stream of other sensory events; typically peaks between 300 and 500 milliseconds after the stimulus.
perseveration
The repetition of a response despite changing stimuli or rules that make a different response more appropriate.
phrenology
Originating in the early nineteenth century, the attempt to create maps of brain function based on the pattern of bumps and valleys on the surface of the skull.
posterior parietal cortex
The region of the parietal cortex surrounding the intraparietal sulcus.
prefrontal cortex (PFC)
Cortical regions in the frontal lobe that are anterior to the primary motor and premotor cortices; thought to be involved in planning complex cognitive behaviors and in the expression of personality and appropriate social behavior.
reversal learning
The capacities for recognizing that the rules mapping environmental events to behavior have changed and for adjusting behavior accordingly.
schizophrenia
A heterogeneous psychiatric condition characterized by disordered thought, withdrawal symptoms, and inaccurate beliefs about reality.
ventrolateral prefrontal cortex
A functional division of the prefrontal cortex roughly corresponding to the inferior frontal gyrus and surrounding sulci, as located anterior to motor cortex.
ventromedial prefrontal cortex
The ventral portion of the prefrontal cortex surrounding the hemispheric midline; plays a key role in the control of emotions and social behavior.
volatility
The degree to which the rules governing environmental events (e.g., the delivery of rewards) are
changing or stable over time.
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test
A cognitive test that involves classifying a set of cards, each showing one or more images of a simple shape, into categories based on rules that periodically change throughout the session.
working memory
Memory held briefly in the mind that enables completion of a particular task (e.g., efficiently searching a room for a lost object).
