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NSCI 201 > Executive functions > Flashcards

Executive functions Flashcards

1
Q

What are the systems at the core of executive functions?

A
  • Inhibition (behavioural and cognitive)
  • Working memory
  • Cognitive flexibility
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2
Q

Why are EF needed?

A

To select the appropriate behaviour in a complex and constantly changing environment.

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3
Q

True or false: EF can be impaired, but cannot be trained and improved.

A

False: can also be trained and improved.

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4
Q

Is using EF in a fictional scenario (e.g., thinking about an outcome) also recruiting the activation of its corresponding brain areas?

A

Yes.

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5
Q

What does differentiate functional from structural connectivity in the CNS?

A

Structural connectivity: physical connection

Functional connectivity: simply part of the same functional network

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6
Q

What are the two types of neuroimaging techniques used to study EF?

A 
Structural neuroimaging
Functional neuroimaging (paired with neuropsychological tests)
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7
Q

Except neuroimaging, what are other study methods used to investigate EF?

A

Animal studies
Computational neuroscience
Lesion studies and clinical syndromes

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8
Q

What is the frontal association cortex composed of?

A

Prefrontal cortex and motor-related areas (except primary motor cortex)

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9
Q

What is the central function of dlPFC? What are three of its predominant interconnected areas?

A

Determining the behaviour to adopt in the actual context, final step in executive functions.
Interconnected with:

OFC, ACC (reward related)
Premotor cortex (planning related, planning the movement sequence of the future behaviour)
Parietal areas (attention related)
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10
Q

What does allow a flexible behaviour?

A

Overriding habits and find new solutions to non-predictable circumstances.

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11
Q

Where is the seat (cerebral structure) of working memory?

A

dlPFC

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12
Q

What structure is responsible for maintenance of abstract rules and the adaptation to new abstract rules?

A

dlPFC

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13
Q

What is observed in the cerebral electrical activity with the implementation of different abstract rules?

A

Different firing patterns.

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14
Q 
What structure(s) involved in EF is/are responsible to estimate the reward value of options and use the information for decision-making?
What are its three input types? What structures are responsible for each input type?
A

OFC and vmPFC

  • Uses sensory areas + interoception (how does an option makes us “feel”) for the identification of stimuli and their properties
  • Uses hippocampus, amygdala and medial temporal lobe for memory
  • Uses reward-related neurons in midbrain for associations between actions and consequences
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15
Q

Are the values associated to outcomes maintained by OFC and vmPFC subjective (subject to change)?

A

Yes, and different firing patterns reflect those changes.

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16
Q

What structure involved in EF could be described as a cognitive map? Why?

A

OFC because it is storing relevant behavioural stimuli with their associated values and potential outcomes, acting as a bridge between the external world and the internal states.

17
Q

What is the principal role of ACC? To what other structures is it connected to? Why?

A

Learn from the consequences of our behaviour.
Sends information to dlPFC to identify outcomes with high risk of failure.
Sends information to OFC to update subjective values.

18
Q

____ detects the need to change of behaviour, ___ implements the change.
Fill the gaps with two structures involved in EF.

A

ACC detects the need to change of behaviour, dlPFC implements the change.

19
Q

What disorder is linked to increased levels of activity in the ACC?

A

OCD

20
Q

In what area can be observed the electrical activity of error related negativity?

A

ACC

21
Q

What structure involved in EF is important for interoception?

A

Anterior Insula

22
Q

What is interoception?

A

Evaluating its own physiological activity, how we “feel” (“gut” feeling).

23
Q

What structure involved in EF is receiving visceral inputs from peripheral nervous system?

A

Anterior Insula.

24
Q

True or false: interoception does not affect decision-making.

A

False.

25
Q

What structure is often affected in disorders that impair decision making (e.g. compuslive gambling, drug addiction)?

A

Anterior Insula

26
Q

Lesion to what structure would lead to a bad performance in the Iowa Gambling Task?

A

Anterior Insula

27
Q

What is the somatic marker hypothesis?

A

Bodily sensations are associated to outcomes and influence decisions. Somatic markers are peripheral states that come with emotion.

28
Q

What structure involved in EF is responsible for behavioural inhibition?

A

vlPFC

29
Q

What is behavioural inhibition involved in?

A

Self control and reduce impulsivity.

30
Q

What structure involved in EF is highly activated in the default mode network?

A

PCC

NSCI 201 (14 decks)

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