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nsci 201 > executive functions > Flashcards

executive functions Flashcards

1
Q

aspects of core executive functions (3)

A
  1. inhibition - behavioral and cognitive
  2. working memory
  3. cognitive flexibility
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2
Q

what do executive functions depend on (4)

A
  1. sensory input
  2. remembered information
  3. goals
  4. predictions
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3
Q

what do executive functions make possible (5)

A
  1. mentally playing with ideas
  2. thinking before acting
  3. meeting new, unanticipated challenges
  4. resisting temptations
  5. staying focused
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4
Q

what can executive functions be impaired by (4)

A
  1. stress
  2. lack of sleep
  3. loneliness
  4. lack of exercise
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5
Q

how can executive functions be studied (5)

A
  1. structural neuroimaging
  2. functional neuroimaging (with neuropsychological tests)
  3. animal studies (electrodes in brain)
  4. computational neuroscience (algorithms)
  5. lesion studies/clinical syndromes (phineas gage)
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6
Q

what is the role of executive functions system

A

control system that adapts cognitive functions to current environment and state of organism

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7
Q

what are some ex of executive functions (4)

A
  1. stm
  2. reward evaluation
  3. conflict resolution
  4. response inhibition
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8
Q

brain areas involved in executive functions: lateral view (2)

A
  1. dorsolateral pfc
  2. ventrolateral pfc
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9
Q

brain areas involved in executive functions: medial view (5)

A
  1. ventromedial pfc
  2. ofc
  3. dorsal acc
  4. posterior cc
  5. dorsomedial pfc
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10
Q

brain area involved in executive functions not seen in lateral or medial view

A

insula

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11
Q

lateral pfc important for

A

integrating sensory input and motor output

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12
Q

ventromedial pfc and ofc important for (not role)

A

memory and emotion

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13
Q

roles of (a) dlPFC (b) ofc & vmPFC (c) acc (d) insula (e) vlPFC (f) pcc

A

(a) flexible behavior
(b) estimate reward value
(c) encodes negative consequences or signal of mismatch -> learn from consequences of our actions
(d) interoception
(e) behavioral inhibition
(f) self awareness and exploratory behavior

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14
Q

dlpfc connected to which other cortical areas and for what (3)

A
  1. ofc & acc -> reward related
  2. premotor cortex -> planning related
  3. parietal areas -> attention related
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15
Q

how does dlpfc control flexible behavior (3)

A
  1. regulates other circuits actively
  2. controls responses of other groups of neurons (more or less responsive to inputs and feedback)
  3. produces different responses in different contexts
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16
Q

ex of flexible behavior that dlpfc controls (4)

A
  1. switching attention
  2. working memory
  3. maintaining abstract rules
  4. inhibiting inappropriate responses
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17
Q

what does flexible behavior allow us to do

A

override habits and find new solutions in non-predictable circumstances

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18
Q

definition of wm and activity in dlpfc

A

ability do keep information in mind to guide behavior (immediately) -> firing rate of dlpfc increases while information is maintained in stm

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19
Q

effect of lesion in dlpfc (3)

A
  1. impairments in stm capacity and duration
  2. can learn rule, but no change in behavior (if rule is changed)
  3. no adaptation to changing circumstances -> stuck in behavioral routine
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20
Q

activity of dlpfc when rules change

A

systematic patterns of activity that accord with specific rules; changes in rules change firing rates of neurons (according to feedback)

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21
Q

how do ofc and vmpfc estimate value

A

maintain values of >2 options in stm to compare their values

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22
Q

effect of lesion in vmpfc

A

disruption of value comparisons bw objects

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23
Q

what is credit assignment and which brain area regulates it

A

identifying stimulus responsible for reward/punishment -> vmpfc and ofc

24
Q

what brain area does vmpfc regulate

25
Q

how does ofc/vmpfc evaluate options (3 steps)

A
  1. identification of stimuli and properties -> sensory areas
  2. retrieval of past experiences -> hippocampus, amygdala, medial temporal lobe
  3. associations bw actions/objects and consequences (reward/punishment) -> reward-related DA neurons in midbrain
26
Q

ofc evaluates options based on … + ex

A

subjective value (same option, different reward in different circumstances); satiety changes value of peanuts for monkeys (fed with peanuts to satiety, value of peanuts goes down -> less ofc neurons firing for peanuts)

27
Q

effect of lesion to ofc

A

value assignment -> disruption in associating negative value to outcome

28
Q

why is the cognitive map in the ofc useful

A

links both external world and internal states with the possible outcome of choices

29
Q

what is error related negativity

A

eeg signal that happens ~200ms after subject makes a mistake

30
Q

acc receives input from which systems (4)

A
  1. perception
  2. emotion
  3. attention
  4. memory
31
Q

output of acc

A

feedback signals to control systems that regulate connection bw sensory inputs and behavioral outputs (dlpfc)

32
Q

what causes the pfc to change its rules

A

feedback from acc

33
Q

goal of feedback signals from acc (2)

A
  1. update behavioral goals
  2. adopt new cognitive rules
34
Q

responses of acc neurons are affected by (2)

A
  1. consequences of actions (errors that reduce reward)
  2. size of reward
35
Q

what does the acc monitor (2)

A
  1. value of outcomes (when used to guide future behaviors)
  2. counterfactual or potential outcome
36
Q

relationship bw acc and dlpfc

A

acc detects need to change behavior and dlpfc implements it

37
Q

brain area that responds to conflict

38
Q

effect of lesion to acc

A

impairments in learning from the consequences

39
Q

increased acc activity is observed in which mental health disorder and how does it manifest

A

ocd; overly sensitive to stimuli that other people ignore -> self-doubt, failures of self-control (compulsions)

40
Q

what is a cingulotomy and what is it used for

A

ablation of acc; treatment in severe cases of ocd; reduces sensitivity to minor errors (still compulsions, but not the feeling)

41
Q

where is the insula

A

buried within lateral sulcus, bw temporal and frontal lobes

42
Q

insula receives inputs from (7)

A
  1. acc
  2. inferior temporal lobe
  3. pfc
  4. ofc
  5. amygdala
  6. hippocampus
  7. visceral inputs from pns
43
Q

what does the insula store

A

representation of bodily states (hunger, thirst, temperature, pain, itch, fatigue, heart rate)

44
Q

insula affected in which disorders

A

disorders that impair decision making -> compulsive gambling or drug addiction

45
Q

effect of lesion in insula (maybe)

A

disruption in sensing fear response associated with choosing disadvantageous situation

46
Q

relationship bw music, dance and interoception

A

musicians and dancers have better interoception

47
Q

vlpfc connects with (3)

A
  1. sensory areas in inferotemporal cortex
  2. auditory superior temporal gyrus
  3. dlpfc
48
Q

what do vlpfc outputs regulate and which brain region

A

dlpfc (flexible behavior)

49
Q

effect of lesion to vlpfc

A

impulsivity (respond more rapidly, less accurately) and make poor decisions in various domains

50
Q

relationship bw pcc and sensory stimuli

A

pcc neurons don’t respond to sensory stimuli

51
Q

activity in pcc during tasks

A

reduced activity during performance of most tasks

52
Q

pcc is part of which network

A

default mode network (high activity when person not engaged in task)

53
Q

when is pcc highly active

A

when distracted or daydreaming

54
Q

ex of info that pcc regulates (3)

A
  1. retrieval of info from autobiographical memory
  2. thinking of oneself in future
  3. considering others in relation to self
55
Q

pcc is affected in which disease

nsci 201 (6 decks)

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