Control Flashcards
1
Q
EXECUTIVE CONTROL MECHANISMS/EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS
A
- brain/mind has many available specialised/domain-specific modules for categorising/analysing/language generation/calculating/action choice/rehearsing/mental rotation etc.
- BUT many aren’t automatic/constant/linked up
- must select/activate subset of processing modules then organise/link/tune then to accomplish task
2
Q
SELECT/ACTIVATION OF SINGLE TASK SET
A
- each encountered object afford many tasks
- task-set = appropriate perceptual/cognitive/motor resource organisation to carry out task
- “wilful” selection of adopted task-set according to goals/environment automatically triggering familiar task-sets (reading/emotion recognition) = to some extent
3
Q
OTHER FUNCTIONS ATTRIBUTED W/EXECUTIVE CONTROL
A
- inhibiting inappropriate actions
- updating = selecting WM info for maintenance/suppression
- managing LTM search
- monitoring performance/trouble shooting/adjusting accuracy + performance speed balance
- multi-tasking aspect coordination (ie. keeping dif info streams segregated/prioritising tasks)
- sequencing/planning multistep tasks especially where required actions = nonhabitual
4
Q
LURE OF THE CONTROL HOMUNCULUS
A
- attribution of control to unitary inner agent ie:
BADDLEY & HITCH (1974) - visuo-spatial sketch-pad central executive phonological buffer
NORMAN & SHALLICE (1980) - environment -> sensory perceptual systems -> trigger data base -> contention scheduling supervisory attentional system -> action
GILBERT & BURGESS (2008) - sensory info -> schemas -> response systems
- schemas supervisory system
5
Q
INVESTIGATING CONTROL PROCESSES
A
- natural history of control = obvs: IRL control failures (action errors)/pathological control failures post TBI)
- beh exps = engage control processes isolating/studying performance contribution in pps/patients ie: response conflict/task-switching/stop-signal/dual-task/multitasking exps
- we measure brain activity correlated w/control function exercise in paradigms
6
Q
EVERYDAY CONTROL ERRORS
A
- systematic error analysis = diary studies (ie. NORMAN (1981))/accident enquiries (REASON (1990))
- control error examples =
- capture errors; habitual/recently-exercised action patterns seize beh control
- cross-talk errors; failure to separate concurrent task elements (ie. concurrent writing/speaking)
- lost intentions; failure to initiate intended action when trigger conditions set in prospective memory occur
7
Q
BRAIN DAMAGE -> CONTROL PROBLEMS
A
HARLOW (1868)
- patient Gage; lost control (ie v rude) w/brain damage
LURIA
- most lost w/prefrontal cortex damage
- PFC = high beh organisation suggested initially via clinical descriptions of patients w/damage (ie. Luria)
- neuropsych testing revealed many control problems
- not always associated; dissociations = executive function fractionation
8
Q
PFC DAMAGE IMPAIREMENT EXAMPLES
A
UTILISATION BEH/MEDIAL PFC - inability to suppress habitual action to familiar object (aka. "normal" capture errors) PERSERVATION - ie. Wisconsin card-sorting test EVALUATIVE DECISION MAKING DIFFICULTY/ORBITO-FRONTAL PFC - ie. Damasio's patient J (1999) DISORDERED PLANNING - ie. strategy application disorder
9
Q
STRATEGY APPLICATION DISORDER
A
SHALLICE & BURGESS’ MULTIPLE ERRANDS (1991)
- pp given money + instruction sheet (items to buy/info to find/rendezvous w/time/rules (ie. don’t go beyond line/enter only to buy)
- PFC patient (w/good Wisconsin) performance =
- disorganised performance (subtasks incomplete/ignored/repeated/inefficient)
- rules broken (crossed line/entered irrelevant shops)
- social convention violations (not paying/inappropriate)
- BUT not via motivation lack (work-rate = high)
10
Q
NO SINGLE EXECUTIVE HOMUNCULUS
A
- observed dissociations w/executive control impairments post brain damage argue against unitary central executive
- instead = distributed control mechanism network (in dif PFC parts ie. basal ganglia/parietal cortex)
- maintaining/controlling temp storage buffers = small aspect of executive control mechanisms
11
Q
CAPTURING CONTROL IN LAB
A
- situations examined where:
- task-set suppressed
- reset control parameters
- inhibit actions/thoughts/memories/emotions
- manage multiple info flows
- try isolating effects of above demands on performance/brain activity from task-specific processes/arousal/emotion effects
12
Q
STROOP’S RESPONSE CONFLICT
A
- already have colour-naming/reading (^ practiced/habitual/automatic) task-sets in brain
- we try selectively attending colour + apply naming task-set BUT can’t completely suppress reading task-set
- RT difs between 2cs = response conflict (indexes incompleteness of control)
13
Q
FLANKER EFFECT
A
GRATTON et al (1992)
- response conflict triggered via instructed task application set to irrelevant objects
- 5 letters appear; attend central; left = S; right = H
- incongruent (slow) - neutral - congruent (fast)
- found lateralised readiness potential
- attentional spotlight spread allows response activation via flankers
14
Q
COMPARING TASK SWITCHES W/REPEATS IN TASK-CUEING EXP
A
- on each trial, 1/2 tasks cues appear (letter/string; number/digit); compound stimulus follows ie. E2
- classify letter/vowel/consonant OR digit = odd/even
- stimulus interval response = 1500ms
15
Q
RESPONSE CONGRUENCE EFFECT
A
- indicates facilitation/conflict from activation of response appropriate for the other task
- other task-set is still active not completely disabled
- reduction in switch cost given time to prepare measures mental configuration for task change
- irreducible residual cost measures limits on preparation ability (inter via task-set inertia)
