development of executive funtions Flashcards
what are executive functions also known as
top down mental processes
name three key executive functions
inhibition
working memory
cognitive flexibility
what is inhibition
Controlling attention and/or emotions to override a prepotent response
what is working memory
Holding information in mind whilst simultaneously processing it
what is cognitive flexibility
Changing perspectives to a problem, flexibly adjusting to new demands
how is inhibitory control assessed
button press task - how long child can refrain from pressing the buttons
when does inhibitory control increase
rapid growth in early childhood 3-6 years
what is a complex span task
hold words in mind whilst processing sentences
what is a digit span task
asked to remember a sequence of numbers
how do digit span results improve through infancy
1 item at 6 months, 3-4 items by the end of the first year
when does cognitive flexibility develop
develops later than inhibition and working memory
what is a usual task used to assess cognitive flexibility
Wisconsin card sorting task
what is the Wisconsin card sorting task
-ppt given 4 target cards
-given set of cards and asked to sort them, can be by shape form or colour
-given feedback throughout task about sorting
how do infants behave in the Wisconsin card sorting task
Up to 4years old - able to sort by colour and shape but cannot switch task
how does the results of congitive flexibility improve through childhood
Middle childhood/early adolescence - shift costs decrease throughout each age group
what has to be controlled for when comparing developmental trajectories of executive functions
IQ and SES - linked to overall cognitive ability
which EFs show similar developmental trajectories
inhibition and working memory
why is it difficult to assess executive functions
Tasks are complex and multi-dimensional - makes it difficult to pinpoint specific skills
what occurs during maturation of the prefrontal cortex
both progressive and regressive changes
what progressive changes are made during maturation of the prefrontal cortex
myelination
neuron proliferation
synaptogenesis
what are regressive changes that occur during maturation of the prefrontal cortex
cell death
synaptic pruning
loss in grey matter
what is neural proliferation
Neurons multiplying at a very fast rate
when is neural proliferation most active
during prenatal development
what is synaptogenesis and when does it happen
neurons forming connections with other neurons
during early development
what is synaptic pruning
Eliminating unused or weaker synapses in the brain
Occurs after synaptogenesis for efficiency
when is synaptic pruning most relevant
during adolescence
what is grey matter
Contains most of the brains neurons and synapses
what is myelination and what does it do
Coating axons in fatty substance as a form of insulation
Speeds up transmission of electric signals between neurons
what is cell death
Natural and controlled process where cells die off as a part of normal development
what age of infancy do dendritic trees of the PFC increase
6-12 months
what occurs in PFC maturation at 12-18 months
peak in synaptogenesis in the middle frontal gyrus
what ages does GM volume in frontal and parietal lobes peak
10 for girls
12 for boys
when does loss of grey matter in PFC begin
starts at puberty
