Cognitive Control/ Executive Function

Question 1

Assessing (executive) functions of the frontal lobe

Answer 1

Challenges:
Performance can be impaired for reasons other than frontal dysfunction.
- test must be complex to elicit deficit.
- examiner/ testing situation can act as the “frontal lobes” of the patient.

Question 2

Deficit: working (short term) memory,

Answer 2

1) difficultly retaining information (concentrating) or managing multiple tasks at once.

Sample assessment; digit span (concentration) forward + backward.

• alphaspan (multiple demands in memory)
• hold items in mind + alphabetized them.

Question 3

Deficit: control of action/ flexability

Answer 3

Ability to flexibly after behaviour based on changing contingencies (shifting sets)