College 6: Executive functions

Question 1

What is executive functioning?

Answer 1

High-level processes that, by operating on lower-level mental processes, flexibly regulate and control our thoughts & goal-directed behavior

Question 2

What is used to describe a scent of EF problems?

Answer 2

The dysexecutive syndrome

Question 3

What are common clusters of EF? (4x)

Answer 3

1. Response inhibition - flexibility - emotional control
2. Task initiation - sustained attention
3. Time management - planning/prioritizing
4. Working memory - organization

Question 4

What is the model of Baddely & Hitch?

Answer 4

Mainly focused on WM but there is also an EF component -> the central executive (CEO of your memory) is the attentional control that determines which information becomes stored

Question 5

What is meta-cognition?

Answer 5

Thinking about one’s own thinking -> an important concept in many models (self-awareness, -monitoring, - control)

Question 6

What is the model of Ylvisaker?

Answer 6

A model in terms of steps in EF execution, so more clinically usefull

Question 7

What is the unity/diversity framework model of Miyake?

Answer 7

A factor analysis approach with 3 main components: updating, shifting and inhibition ability + 1 common loading on a central EF factor

When updating the model -> updating and shifting-specific + common EF factor

Question 8

What is the model of Dawson & Guare?

Answer 8

Also a clinically oriented model, EF = brain-based skills to execute tasks, and we all have our strenghts and weaknesses

Question 9

Which area is mostly associated with EF?

Answer 9

Prefrontal cortex -> not all just located here, but they are controlled from this area

Question 10

What is the bidirectional link between the prefrontal and parietal lobe, involved in the perception of visual space and the focussing of attention on different parts of space?

Answer 10

Superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF)

Question 11

With which EF are these neurotransmitters mostly associated?

1. Dopamine
2. Serotonin
3. Acetylcholine
4. Norepinephrine

Answer 11

1. Dopamine = set-shifting, inhibition, attention
2. Serotonin = general executive control, attention
3. Acetylcholine = cognitive flexibility, attention
4. Norepinephrine = arousal -> activates PFC -> subserves all EF (more indirect way)

Question 12

What impairments are associated with the ‘cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome (CCAS)’? (4x)

And what is the theory behind this?

Answer 12

Impairments in EF, visual-spatial abilities, linguistic abilities, affective disturbance

Dysmetria of thought hypothesis = dysmetria means ‘lack of coordination’ and this concept holds that the cerebellum modulates behavior around a homeostatic baseline -> and damage to parts of the cerebellum that are involved in a neural circuit with the cortex disrups this automatic modulation, leading to impairments

Question 13

What is task-impurity?

Answer 13

Every task demands several cognitive/executive functions at the same time, so it’s difficult to measure just 1 EF.

Question 14

Lateralization of EF?

Answer 14

Left = criterion setting -> the cognitive control function in charge of forming and selecting associations/rules that are relevant for accomplishing a given task.

Right = monitoring -> the cognitive control function in charge of actively maintaining representations of goals and checking their status in relation to the flow of events, to make adjustments and optimize performance

Question 15

What is the Superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) involved in?

Answer 15

involved in the perception of visual space and the focussing of attention on different parts of space