cognition- executive functions

Question 1

what is an executive function?

Answer 1

mental processes for regulating and controlling other cognitive processes, in particular in relation to complex actions

Question 2

why are they called “executive”

Answer 2

• they manage task processing
• they are not actually involved in performing a task

Question 3

what are the three major executive functions?

Answer 3

• inhibition
• shifting
• updating

Question 4

what is inhibition?

Answer 4

controls ones attention, behaviour, thoughts, and or emotions to override a strong internal predisposition or external lure
- inhibition of attention: resisting distractor interference
- inhibition of action: inhibiting a prepotent response

Question 5

shifting

Answer 5

to switch flexibly between tasks or mental sets

Question 6

updating

Answer 6

to monitor and engage in rapid addition or deletion of working memory contents

Question 7

stroop task (stroop, 1935)

Question 8

dysexecutive syndrome

Answer 8

• brain damaged individuals whose EF is impaired
  -impaired response inhibition, rule deduction and generation, maintenance and shifting of sets and information generation

Question 9

state- some evidence supports the idea that training improves EF

Question 10

bilingualism and EFs

Answer 10

bilinguals preserve EFs longer during aging