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2 developmental > development of executive funtions > Flashcards

development of executive funtions Flashcards

1
Q

what are executive functions also known as

A

top down mental processes

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2
Q

name three key executive functions

A

inhibition
working memory
cognitive flexibility

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3
Q

what is inhibition

A

Controlling attention and/or emotions to override a prepotent response

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4
Q

what is working memory

A

Holding information in mind whilst simultaneously processing it

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5
Q

what is cognitive flexibility

A

Changing perspectives to a problem, flexibly adjusting to new demands

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6
Q

how is inhibitory control assessed

A

button press task - how long child can refrain from pressing the buttons

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7
Q

when does inhibitory control increase

A

rapid growth in early childhood 3-6 years

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8
Q

what is a complex span task

A

hold words in mind whilst processing sentences

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9
Q

what is a digit span task

A

asked to remember a sequence of numbers

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10
Q

how do digit span results improve through infancy

A

1 item at 6 months, 3-4 items by the end of the first year

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11
Q

when does cognitive flexibility develop

A

develops later than inhibition and working memory

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12
Q

what is a usual task used to assess cognitive flexibility

A

Wisconsin card sorting task

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13
Q

what is the Wisconsin card sorting task

A

-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

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14
Q

how do infants behave in the Wisconsin card sorting task

A

Up to 4years old - able to sort by colour and shape but cannot switch task

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15
Q

how does the results of congitive flexibility improve through childhood

A

Middle childhood/early adolescence - shift costs decrease throughout each age group

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16
Q

what has to be controlled for when comparing developmental trajectories of executive functions

A

IQ and SES - linked to overall cognitive ability

17
Q

which EFs show similar developmental trajectories

A

inhibition and working memory

18
Q

why is it difficult to assess executive functions

A

Tasks are complex and multi-dimensional - makes it difficult to pinpoint specific skills

19
Q

what occurs during maturation of the prefrontal cortex

A

both progressive and regressive changes

20
Q

what progressive changes are made during maturation of the prefrontal cortex

A

myelination
neuron proliferation
synaptogenesis

21
Q

what are regressive changes that occur during maturation of the prefrontal cortex

A

cell death
synaptic pruning
loss in grey matter

22
Q

what is neural proliferation

A

Neurons multiplying at a very fast rate

23
Q

when is neural proliferation most active

A

during prenatal development

24
Q

what is synaptogenesis and when does it happen

A

neurons forming connections with other neurons
during early development

25
Q

what is synaptic pruning

A

Eliminating unused or weaker synapses in the brain
Occurs after synaptogenesis for efficiency

26
Q

when is synaptic pruning most relevant

A

during adolescence

27
Q

what is grey matter

A

Contains most of the brains neurons and synapses

28
Q

what is myelination and what does it do

A

Coating axons in fatty substance as a form of insulation
Speeds up transmission of electric signals between neurons

29
Q

what is cell death

A

Natural and controlled process where cells die off as a part of normal development

30
Q

what age of infancy do dendritic trees of the PFC increase

A

6-12 months

31
Q

what occurs in PFC maturation at 12-18 months

A

peak in synaptogenesis in the middle frontal gyrus

32
Q

what ages does GM volume in frontal and parietal lobes peak

A

10 for girls
12 for boys

33
Q

when does loss of grey matter in PFC begin

A

starts at puberty

34
Q
A

2 developmental (10 decks)

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